Department of Environmental Conservation

(PhD., W&FCON)

Project:

Black bear movements and predation in Newfoundland

Contact:

nrayl(at)eco.umass.edu

Support:

Faculty Advisor:

Todd Fuller and John Organ

Project Abstract:

Caribou in Newfoundland are undergoing a major population decline and previous studies of calf mortality indicate that predation by resident black bears, coyotes and lynx may be a major contributor to the decline. The studies also indicate that the relative importance of each predator species to calf mortality varies by study area. To better understand why predators have such a large effect on calf survival and why species-specific predation rates vary by geographic area, colleagues and I will identify the year-round movements and habitat use of black bears in 3 study areas in Newfoundland where the population ecology of caribou and the 2 other large predator species will be studied concurrently. Movements will be identified by analyses of GPS-telemetry collar locations collected year round on a systematic basis.  In addition to movements, we will also try to identify, in collaboration with movement and habitat studies done by others, habitat use of individual bears to see if specific individuals are responsible for disproportionate mortality on caribou calves.

Publications:

Fuller, T. K., S. M. Matthews, S. S. Stevens, N. D. Rayl, C. J. Zieminski, A. R. Whiteley, P. R. Sievert, J. F. Organ, and M. W. Gabriel. 2010. (Book Review) Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46:1055-1058.