The grizzly bear is one of Northwest Montana's biggest natural attractions and now we know even more about it as the lead researcher has released the results of the massive five year DNA study at Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park officials and interested citizens gathered in the park's community center on Tuesday afternoon to how many grizzly bears call Northwest Montana their home. The results of the study showed that there are about 765 of the animals, which is about what researchers predicted.
"I don't think the result is especially surprising" explained Research Biologist Kate Kendall. "We felt that the population generally had probably expanded since it was listed and that was one of the reasons that people were interested in having the study done."
The study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and used bear hair samples and DNA fingerprinting to develop the first ever count of Grizzlies occupying northwest Montana.
A team of more than 200 people combed a 7.8 million acre area stretching from Missoula to Canada, and according to researchers, the 765 bears that the study estimated is 2.5 times the number of bears previously estimated to live in the area.
Montana's grizzly bear population is thought to be among the highest in the nation, but even so, they have been on the endangered species list since 1975.
Researchers say that grizzly populations have been negatively affected by human growth and development, leaving many straying from their habitat, and even weakened by eating human food.
But, they also hope that their study results will bring awareness to the species and it's needs.
Glacier National Park employees say that the bears are one of the park's most popular features, and with the development of this study, they hope the species will continue to flourish under their management.
The study received national attention for being the largest non-invasive study of bears done to date.
(from September 16, 2008)
The results of a five year study of grizzly bear DNA was released Tuesday, indicating that approximately 765 grizzly bears make their home in Northwest Montana.
Glacier National Park officials along with interested citizens gathered in the park's community center on Tuesday afternoon to hear the news.
The study was conducted by the US Geological Survey, and used bear hair samples and DNA fingerprinting to develop the first ever count of Grizzlies occupying northwest Montana.
One research biologist claims the number came out to be about what she expected.
"I don't think the result was especially surprising I think we felt that the population generally probably had expanded since it was listed and that was one of the reasons people were interested in having the study done," said USGS Research Biologist, Kate Kendall.
