{"id":110,"date":"2016-08-05T17:01:11","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T17:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/?page_id=110"},"modified":"2021-04-07T18:59:44","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T18:59:44","slug":"data-collection-methods-for-kevan-bracewells-grizzly-bear-monitoring-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/conservation\/data-collection-methods-for-kevan-bracewells-grizzly-bear-monitoring-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Collection Methods for Kevan Bracewell\u2019s Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Kevan Bracewell started the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program to provide data on grizzly bears. This data has helped protect the grizzlies\u2019 habitat from overuse.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>At a glance\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program, created by Kevan Bracewell in 2008, compiles data from wildlife sighting forms and grizzly bear hair samples collected from grizzly rub trees.<\/p>\n<p>How it works: Every time that Kevan Bracewell and the Chilcotin Holidays team journey through the South Chilcotin Mountains, whether they are leading guests on horse pack trips or performing regular trail maintenance, they purposefully watch for and collect grizzly bear hair samples and record grizzly sightings.<\/p>\n<p>Purpose:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To contribute reliable samples to scientific research.<\/li>\n<li>To obtain actionable data that will influence policy and protect grizzlies\u2019 habitat from overuse and degradation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Goals Achieved:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Significant contributions to the findings and conclusions of biologist Francis Ardale.<\/li>\n<li>The creation of responsible land use policies throughout the Coast to Cascades region, which serve to protect the habitat of Canada\u2019s grizzly bears.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Basics&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As part of the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program, Kevan Bracewell has incorporated data collection into every journey that he and the Chilcotin Holidays team take through the South Chilcotin Mountains. Their primary methods for obtaining data are the collection of grizzly bear hair samples from rub trees and the use of wildlife sighting forms.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is a grizzly bear rub tree? Why do biologists and conservationists care about them?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When a grizzly bear marks its territory by rubbing against a tree, the bear leaves its scent, along with some of its hair. These samples of grizzly bear hair are valuable to scientific research, as they indicate spatially explicit population density data and, over time, allow biologists to track population trends and characteristics. This kind of data helps shape policy, and promotes regulations that protect and preserve the grizzlies&#8217; habitat. Because there is no sure and easy way to find rub trees, however, hair samples are difficult to obtain through natural means. Biologists often resort to hair-snagging, which relies on the placement of artificial rub trees that consist of a pole wrapped in wire. While hair-snagging does yield beneficial data, as reported in the Wildlife Society Bulletin, this artificial means of obtaining grizzly hair samples is not as accurate as hair samples collected from natural grizzly bear rub trees. This is why Kevan Bracewell established the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program. Because he and the Chilcotin Holidays team journey through the mountains on a regular basis, they have become skilled at identifying natural rub trees. Kevan saw this as an opportunity to contribute meaningful data to conservation research. So, before each trip Kevan Bracewell and his team pack collection kits and sighting forms with the rest of their gear. Throughout their mountain journeys, the team looks for the telltale claw marks that indicate a natural grizzly bear rub tree. They collect grizzly hair samples with the kit, recording the location, time, and date of the sample retrieval.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wildlife Sighting Forms&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program also utilizes wildlife sighting forms, which biologist Doug Jury created in 1995. These forms allow Kevan Bracewell and the Chilcotin Holidays team to record sightings of grizzly bears throughout the South Chilcotin Mountains and greater Bridge River Valley watershed. These forms provide an extensive database of sightings and signs of grizzly bear activity, which has revealed the health and characteristics of grizzlies over time.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The data collected by Kevan Bracewell and his team has already led to a significant discovery. Grizzly bear sows typically give birth to 1-2 cubs at a time. From the sightings recorded as part of the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program, biologists noted an unusually high proportion of sows with 3-4 cubs. Upon further investigation, biologists concluded that the high birth rate among grizzly bear sows in the South Chilcotin Mountains is due to the elevated protein content of their diet. Instead of feasting on salmon, like most populations of grizzly bears, the grizzlies in the South Chilcotin Ranges primarily eat white bark pine cones, which contain more protein than salmon. This finding provides helpful information for biologists as they seek to improve the health and vitality of grizzly bear populations throughout North America.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Educating Future Conservationists&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The simplicity and efficacy of these collection methods creates a unique opportunity for guides, guests, and interns to participate in real-world efforts to save grizzly bears. As they collect grizzly bear hair samples and record sightings, the team and guests of Chilcotin Holidays gain hands on experience in conservation efforts. This meaningful participation often impacts people to such a degree that they become conservationists for life. That&#8217;s why Kevan Bracewell continues to prioritize the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program. He understands that this program benefits not only the bears, but conservation efforts around the globe as participants return home and put into practice their new conservation know-how.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Next Steps&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The data collected as part of the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program has already secured major victories in the protection and preservation of grizzly habitats in the South Chilcotin Ranges and greater Bridge River Valley watershed.There is still significant potential for greater impact and discoveries through the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program, however. The grizzly bear population in the South Chilcotin Ranges is the largest and healthiest population in the Coast to Cascades region of British Columbia. This provides a rare opportunity for biologists to identify the distinguishing factors of this population that have made it reach around 200 in size, while other regions have populations of bears as low as 2. Once they identify these factors, biologists can utilize this knowledge to foster habitats that are optimal for the vitality of other grizzly bear populations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Can the grizzly bears count on you to be their voice? Support Chilcotin Holidays, the Wilderness Stewardship Foundation and the Chilcotin Ark Institute\u2019s efforts to protect the grizzlies\u2019 habitat in the South Chilcotin Mountains with a <a href=\"https:\/\/wilderness.stewardship.foundation\/take-action\/donate\/\">donation<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Learn more about Kevan Bracewell\u2019s work:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilcotinholidays.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #485637;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Chilcotin Holidays<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wilderness.stewardship.foundation\/\"><span style=\"color: #485637;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Wilderness Stewardship Foundation<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stewardship.foundation\/\"><span style=\"color: #485637;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Stewardship Foundation<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trails-to-empowerment.org\/\"><span style=\"color: #485637;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Trails to Empowerment<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/chilcotinarkinstitute.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #485637;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Chilcotin Ark Institute<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #485637;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/wildernesstrainingacademy.com\/\">Wilderness Training Academy<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/communitymill.ca\/\">Community Mill<\/a> <\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kevan Bracewell started the Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program to provide data on grizzly bears. This data has helped protect the grizzlies\u2019 habitat from overuse. &nbsp; At a glance\u2026 The Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program, created by Kevan Bracewell in 2008, compiles data from wildlife sighting forms and grizzly bear hair samples collected from grizzly rub trees. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/110"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":408,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/110\/revisions\/408"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevanbracewell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}