DNR using bear hunting season to update the bear population in Wisconsin
Posted By Admin on September 8, 2011
Wednesday is the start of bear hunting season in Wisconsin, and the DNR has a reminder for all the hunters out there who end up bagging a bear.
More than nine thousand hunters got a permit to hunt bears in the state. The season runs through October 11th and the DNR is using this season and the bears that hunters get to learn more about the bear population in the state.
“The states bear population is thriving like never before. The population is growing dramatically in recent years,” explained Ed Culhane from the DNR. He says bear hunting is divided into 4 zones in the state. For the first week of hunting, hunters who use dogs will get to use what hunters say is the coveted northern zones of A, B and D. In zone C bait hunters will be able to hunt there the first week.
“In order to make sure everyone has a fair chance, you know the different hunters using their different methods, every other year it switches, says Culhane.
Hunters who get a bear this year will be required to submit a bear tooth and a 2 inch piece of bear rib at the time of registration. Its part of a population study that the DNR partners with the University of Wisconsin where they leave bait in specific locations across the state.
Baits were set out in such a manner that bears would take them in certain locations and those were laced with tetracycline and tetracycline leaves a mark that found on the bones of the animal, says Culhane.
Wildlife biologists will use the results from the season to figure out an estimated for the bear population in the state.
The DNR hopes to get an even more accurate population estimate. The last time this study was done it was found the population was highly underestimated. The study found 30,000 bears were in the state as opposed to the previously thought 15,000.
Comments