SUPPORT OF CAPTIVE GRIZZLY BEAR PROGRAM

Project ID: F22AC03055

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Washington State University

Fiscal Year: 2022

Initial Funding: $20,000

Total Funding: $20,000

Principal Investigator: Robbins, Charles

Abstract: THE WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (WSU) BEAR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION CENTER IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND FACILITY THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING NECESSARY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND OTHER BEARS AROUND THE WORLD. WSU DEVELOPED A CAPTIVE BEAR FACILITY IN COOPERATION WITH USFWS 36 YEARS AGO THAT HOLDS 10 TO 12 CAPTIVE GRIZZLY BEARS FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS INVOLVING ALL ASPECTS OF GRIZZLY BEAR BIOLOGY. THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS SUCH FACILITIES WHERE ONE CAN DO HIGH LEVEL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON CAPTIVE GRIZZLY BEARS.THE FUNDING USFWS PROVIDES IN THIS GRANT HELPS SUPPORT THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF BEARS AT THE FACILITY AND IN DOING SO HELPS SUPPORT RESEARCH PROJECTS ACROSS THE NATION THAT UTILIZE THESE ANIMALS. USFWS HAS USED THE INFORMATION DEVELOPED AT WSU FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS TO ADVANCE GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY. THE PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF THIS WORK HAVE ALLOWED USFWS AMONG MANY THINGS TO UNDERSTAND GRIZZLY BEAR FOOD HABITS, THE VALUE OF DIFFERENT FOODS IN THE OVERALL DIET AND THEREFORE HOW HABITAT MANAGEMENT AFFECTS POPULATION WELL-BEING, AND GENETIC DIVERSITY WITHIN AND BETWEEN POPULATIONS. THE USFWS GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY OFFICE ALSO HAS USED THE CAPTIVE BEARS TO TRAIN OUR FIELD STAFF ABOUT ANESTHESIA AND FIELD TECHNIQUES FOR SAFELY HANDLING BEARS. THUS, TH