Denning Ecology of Brown Bears on Admiralty and Chichagof Islands

From fall 1981 through fall 1985, 58 radio-collared brown bears (Ursus arctos) were followed to winter dens on Admiralty and Chichagof islands in southeast Alaska. One hundred twenty-one dens were located and their site characteristics described. Mean dates of den entry and emergence, 30 October and 2 May, varied between sexes and among years. Mean elevation and slope of 121 dens were 640 m and 35°, respectively. Dens were at higher elevations and on steeper slopes on Admiralty Island than on Chichagof Island. Females denned on higher and steeper slopes than males. Admiralty Island bears preferred subalpine and alpine/rock habitats and Chichagof Island bears preferred old-growth forest for denning. On Admiralty, rock caves were the most frequent den type; on Chichagof, bears excavated dens most frequently under large-diameter Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) or in the bases of large snags. Mine development on Admiralty Island may have caused bears to avoid certain denning areas. Industrial scale logging may reduce brown bear denning habitat in this region. Management recommendations for reducing the impact of human activity and resource development on denning brown bears are provided.