Evaluating management strategies for grizzly bears in British Columbia, Canada

In British Columbia, The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations manages grizzly bear hunting as the most rigid and conservatively managed hunt in the province. However, there has been concern raised in the media and from some members of the academic community over the sustainability of grizzly bear hunting. It is unclear whether the current management strategy effectively incorporates uncertainties in grizzly bear biology and management. My research intends to address these concerns by utilizing a computer model to test the current provincial grizzly bear harvest management procedure, as well as other management options. Here, I developed a model to simulate grizzly bear population dynamics, provincial management, and hunting. Multiple sources of uncertainty were also included in the analysis. The results of this study highlight the potential benefits, challenges, and tradeoffs of three management options for grizzly bears given uncertainty in biological and management parameters.