How do the wildlife biologists learn about our bear population?
As the stewards of Maine’s fish and Wildlife Resources, we are asked to conserve, protect and enhance the wildlife resources of the state. Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s bear study project has long been a model, which other states have emulated. Since its start in 1975, over 1,600 bears have been tagged for research in three study areas in Maine. The data that we have gathered from this study is enormous, and this is the data used when deciding regulations, bag limits and permit numbers. 2. Myth – Placing bait in the woods actually increases the bear population. One myth presented is that placing bait in the woods actually increases the bear population. That is false. Over the past 25 years IF&W research shows that bear reproduction is directly related to the amount of natural food in the woods. Despite a significant amount of bait being brought into Maine’s woods, natural late fall foods is driving reproduction in Maine. Research shows that from 1982-96, most ad
