How do researchers catch a black bear alive and why?
Biologists capture black bears to research their life history, population dynamics, and habitat requirements; to translocate and restore bears to vacant habitat; and to relocate nuisance bears or “condition” them using aversive techniques. Much of our knowledge about black bears comes from scientific studies of bears which have been captured, marked, released, and radio-tracked over time. Long-term studies are essential for investigating animals with long generation times. Short studies can be misleading for long-lived animals, random environmental variables may not be encountered, and decision-making models may be modified and refined over time. Some bear studies have been going on for over 30 years. Knowledge of the animals’ life history, habitat requirements, and interactions with people are essential in conserving and managing black bear populations in the face of an ever-changing and increasingly perturbed environment. Nevertheless, any studies which involve capture, handling, and
