Estimation of black bear densities in New Mexico using noninvasive genetic analyses

Duration

August 2011 - December 2016

Narrative

One of the main challenges for wildlife management agencies is to set harvest levels that ensure for the long-term persistence of populations. Our primary objective is to estimate the abundance and density of black bears >1year of age using noninvasive sampling and mark-recapture estimation within two bear management zones currently used by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to establish harvest objectives and manage black bears in New Mexico.

Research Products and Activities

Technical Publications

• Gould, M.J., J.W. Cain III, G.W. Roemer, and W.R. Gould. 2014. Estimating abundance and density of American black bears (Ursus americanus) in New Mexico using noninvasive genetic sampling-based capture-recapture methods: Report on 2012 data collection in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Annual project report to New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
• Gould, M.J., J.W. Cain III, G.W. Roemer, and W.R. Gould. 2015. Estimating abundance and density of American black bears (Ursus americanus) in New Mexico using noninvasive genetic sampling-based capture-recapture methods: Report on 2013 data collection and analysis for the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains and an updated analysis for the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Annual project report to New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.| Abstract |

Presentations

• Gould, M. J., J.W. Cain III, G.W. Roemer, W.R. Gould, and S.G. Liley. 2013. Estimating the abundance and density of American black bears (Ursus Americanus) in New Mexico using non-invasive genetic analysis. 46th Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona/New Mexico Chapters of The Wildlife Society, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
• Gould, M.J., J.W. Cain III, G.W. Roemer, W.R. Gould, and S.G. Liley. 2014. Estimating the abundance and density of American black bears (Ursus americanus) in New Mexico using non-invasive genetic analysis. 47th Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona/New Mexico Chapters of The Wildlife Society, Pinetop, Arizona, New Mexico, USA.
• Gould, M.J., J.W. Cain III, G.W. Roemer, W.R. Gould, and S.G. Liley. 2014. Estimating the abundance and density of black bears in New Mexico using non-invasive genetic analysis. The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Pittsburg, PA.