Bear-Livestock management problems, Targhee National Forest

Authors(s): S. J. Johnson, D. Griffel and R. Sherwood

Publication: International Conference on Bear Research and Management

Publisher:

Publication Date: 0000-00-00

Type:

Location: Outlaw Inn, Kalispell Montana

Abstract: The National Forest lands, based on multiple-use principles, provide habitat for both domestic livestock and wildlife. On the Targhee National Forest, this frequently results in predation by wildlife on livestock. Due to the importance of developing more refined management techniques to provide adequate protection of our wildlife resources, especially predatory species such as grizzly (Ursus arctos) and black bears (U. americanus), the Forest is beginning investigations into several aspects of this bear-livestock conflict. Some aspects on which information is being gathered include the extent of both bear and livestock losses on livestock allotments, predation behavior of bears towad livestock, type of bear responsible for the predation, and habitat conditions which encourage or disourage conflicts. Separate field projects are being conducted by a graduate student and a Forest Service employee. This report concerns information collected by the latter on bear depredations, plus a history of bear predation on Targhee livestock allotments. This is one year of at least a two-year study.

Keywords: animal, mammal, bear, grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, Targhee National Forest, predation, livestock, human activity, management, black bear, Ursus americanus, Ursidae