Visitors to wilderness areas west of Sundre are being asked to keep clear of hair snag sites being set up in the region as part of a groundbreaking grizzly bear inventory project.
The fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program is being conducted in a vast area between Highway 1 and Highway 11 from May through July.
The aim of the project is to determine how many of the bruins live in the study area. It is the first study of its kind ever undertaken in the district, officials said.
Part of the study involves the use of 150 hair snag sites, which are strands of barbed wire around a liquid scent lure to attract bears.
When the bear approaches the site, hair is snagged on the wire. That hair is then collected and used for DNA analysis.
“If any hiker or recreationists come across one of our sites, please stay clear,” wildlife research biologist Anja Sorensen told the Gazette. “All of our sites will have a caution sign posted, including a phone number to call in and report any issues, and ‘do not enter’ tape.
“And we are doing our best to absolutely avoid placing sites in areas with high levels of recreational use. Some of these sites are very remote, and all will be several hundred metres at least from trails, roads, and facilities.
“The public are asked, for their safety, to not get too close to the scent lures, and to take a little extra caution in the area.”
The immediate area around each site will be temporarily closed to the public and indicated by caution tape and an area closure sign.
There is no actual food at the snag sites, so the bears are not likely to remain in the vicinity for very long.
“While this research does not pose any particular risk to the public, it’s always important to stay bearsmart. When enjoying the outdoors, carry bear spray, make noise, and stay alert.”
The study results are expected to be released in 2019.
Founded in 1992, fRI Research is a not-for-profit research institute. For more, friresearch.ca.
