Silver looking for Eulachon

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1 VOLUME VOLUME VOLUME WINTER 2013/ 2013/ The newsletter has a new cover courtesy of Carol Mitchell. The Board of Director s extend their appreciation for it and the time that she spent in designing it. Last winter hung on until May. There were still ice patches on Chilkoot Lake May 10tht. The summer warm temperatures resulted in the Chilkoot River stream flows being high for much of the summer. BMJ s daughter, Silver, was the first bear along the river in late May. Speedy, with a new cub, was the next to be seen in May. In early June, BMJ s daughter Teddy returned to the Chilkoot bringing a cub with her. Page 1: Winter Solstice Page 2: Tourist s Corner Bear Collar Update/Census Page 3: Why a Weir Director s Spotlight Page 4: Bears of Summer The Bear Facts Page 5: In Memoriam One of our Bears is Missing CWS Electric Fence Remember Mark Your Calendars Page 6: Merchandise for Sale The Foundation finalized the agreement with Community Waste Solutions concerning installing an electric fence around the landfill. The Foundation contributed funds to towards its installation. Members of the board participated in the focus groups State Parks had during their April open house on the Chilkoot River management proposals. The Foundation had a booth at the Southeast State Fair in late July. This summer, the Foundation worked with Parks in getting volunteers to help monitor along the Chilkoot River. In April, the Alaska State Parks held another open house to present ideas they had developed for possible infrastructure along the Chilkoot River Corridor. In addition, Parks had archeological and road surveys done along the corridor. In 2013, the Chilkoot River weir sockeye salmon count (46,000 fish), was below average and near the low end of the escapement goal range (38,000 to 86,000 fish). Through July 15, only 4,355 sockeye had passed Chilkoot weir, compared to a 10-year average of 12,962 in escapement by the same week. On July 15, State sport fish biologists closed the Chilkoot River to retention of sockeye salmon due to the low escapement of mature fish into Chilkoot Lake. By July 21, 28,473 sockeye had been counted through the weir and the ADF&G reopened the Chilkoot to retention of sockeye salmon. The Chilkoot River pink salmon run was weak, only 25 percent of average. There were 25 coho and 566 chum salmon counted through the weir. Silver looking for Eulachon Teddy and Cub on the Tidal Flats

2 or year Bear Tracts Winter 2013/2014, Page 2 Tourist s Corner Dianne Pratt, Pottsboro, Texas: I must say, seeing the bear was the most exciting part of our trip. I felt awed and privileged to be able to photograph them in nature - very cool experience! We believe that the best way to preserve the gifts of the Chilkoot and to resolve issues is to work cooperatively with the diverse interests that have a stake in the Chilkoot. Tina Zacher, Anchorage, Alaska: I love going to Haines whenever possible to spend time photographing the bears along the Chilkoot River. This was my 5th 6th making the road trip from Anchorage to Haines. Such a beautiful place. Bear Collar Update and Census The collars on Bears 443 (BMJ) and 235 (Speedy) were programmed to come off last fall but did not so they will be removed from the bears this summer. The following is the bear census along the Chilkoot River. Help me by joining the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation

3 Bear Tracks Winter 2013/2014, Page 3 Why a Weir? The Chilkoot River watershed has spawning habitat used by sockeye, pink, coho, fall chum salmon, Dolly Varden, cutthroat trout and three-spine stickleback. Important sockeye salmon spawning areas within this drainage includes inlet streams along the west side of Chilkoot Lake, in the upper Chilkoot River, and in the Glory Hole tributary (northwest end of the lake). Coho salmon spawn in the upper Chilkoot River and its tributary streams. The majority of the pink and chum salmon returns spawn in the lower Chilkoot River both up and downstream of the weir. In most years, sockeye are the most numerous salmon species enumerated into the Chilkoot Lake system and is of the greatest importance to the commercial, sport and subsistence fisheries in the Haines area. In 1976, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game installed a weir near the outlet of the Chilkoot River to assess the annual escapement of sockeye salmon into Chilkoot Lake. The weir is also used to count pink, chum and coho salmon; however, the weir is not operated late enough into the fall to assess fall chum and coho salmon. In recent years, improved technology has allowed some weirs to be replaced with sonar based fish counters or sonar systems. Although sonar systems are used in other areas on the state, the returns of sockeye and pink salmon to Chilkoot River are very similar in run timing and sonar systems cannot differentiate between species especially when they are of similar size. Currently visual counting techniques are used not only to count the escapement but also to accurately count salmon by species. Beginning in 2008, dual frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) unit was installed near the outlet of Chilkat Lake to enumerate Chilkat Lake sockeye salmon. This technology works very well in this situation mostly due to the fact that other similar sized species like pink salmon do not spawn in Chilkat Lake. Randy Bachman, ADF&G Director s Spotlight My first interaction with a bear was in Sequoia National Park in the early 1970 s. While sleeping near the car, I heard an odd noise coming from it. I looked towards the car to see a bear standing at the rear of the car and rocking it up and down. Needless to say, I perked up and woke the fellow I was with. We watched for a short time as the bear went around to the drivers side. When we heard a crash and saw the bear go rolling down the ground, well it was time to get someone to help. After pleading with other campers, a park ranger came up to the camp site with us. Upon arriving there, we saw only the rear end of the bear sticking out of the drivers window. All of us were able to convince the bear to get out of the car. It went up a hill and then did a false charge. Looking up the hill, we saw there were two cubs up there. At daylight, we were able to see what the bear was after: a pack of forgotten doughnuts buried under clothes. A lessoned learned about making sure all food is stored properly in a cooler and trunk of a car. I have watched and photographed bears in the western United States and Canada during my travels. The Chilkoot River, though, has been a rare opportunity to do this and be able to learn more about bears. There is much more to learn yet it is wonderful to be able to do so in such close proximity to the bears. Over the years, it has been a pleasure to spend time with visitors from all over the world sharing stories about the bears they see as well as the ecology of the Chilkoot River watershed. The Chilkoot River is a special place that I am humbled to be able to spend time in with the bears. Ann Puffer

4 Bear Tracts Winter , Page 4 The Bears of Summer Speedy with Cub-May White Claws (the venerable lady of the river) BMJ BMJ s Daughter Silver BMJ s Daughter Teddy with Cub Newcomer Sow with 2 Cubs Blond Butt Lakeside Night Visitors Early Blond Tourist The Bear Facts Brown bears and grizzlies are really the same species. Brown bears are the coastal version of grizzlies. Because of the abundance of fish, they tend to be larger than inland grizzlies. While there has been much confusion about the taxonomy of brown bears (Ursus arctos), taxonomists agree there are at least two subspecies in North America -- the grizzly bear (U. a. horribilis) and the Kodiak bear (U. a. middendorffi) which only lives on Kodiak Island (and small surrounding islands) in Alaska. The range of the brown bear is the widest of any species of bear in the world. They are found in localized populations in eastern and Western Europe, across northern Asia, portions of the Himalayan Mountains, and on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. In North America, they are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and the US states of Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, and Montana. The brown bear is usually dark brown in color, though it can vary from a light creamy shade through to black. The long guard hairs over the shoulders and back are often light colored at the tips which, from a distance, give a grizzled appearance.

5 Bear Tracts Winter 2013/2014, Page 5 In Memoriam In early September, the remains of Teddy s cub were found near the Chilkoot River bridge. It is not known how it was killed. Teddy s Cub One of Our Bears is Missing Bear 236 (Speedy 2) a 3.5 year old bear emerged from hibernation in early June. She was frequently seen along Lutak Road eating dandelions. The last time she was seen was just before July 3. Community Waste System s Electric Fence There is now a bear trail around the outside of an electric fence at the landfill. No longer do bears go to the dump. No longer do employees of Community Waste Solutions (CWS) have to go to work wondering if they will have to confront Big Boy, a bear that can rip open walls. The credit for that goes to CWS. During their busy summer season, they marshaled the funds and effort to construct a high quality multi-strand electric fence around the perimeter of the landfill. In working with them, we found them cheerful, cooperative and desirous of constructing the highest quality product. It has been a pleasure working with them. Thank you CWS for enthusiastically stepping up to keep bears wild and people safe. Big Boy Break In REMEMBER There are electric fences and critter gitters for loan from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Office in Haines. Construction During Fence Installation MARK YOUR 2014 CALENDARS May TBA: Guide Training May TBA: Local Business Training August 15-16: Celebration of Bears Fair

6 Bear Tracts Winter 2013/2014, Page 6 Ball Caps: $20 (Khaki, Maroon, Green, Charcoal Gray, Sage) Long Sleeve Shirts: $20 (Navy Blue, Khaki, Black) Short Sleeve Shirts: $18 (Navy Blue, Khaki) Stickers: $2.00 (Black, Navy Blue, Khaki) Order online or send an to: hats@bearfoundation.org Going into Hibernation Reminder Please RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP to the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation. PO BOX 1188 Haines, Alaska phone: Pam Randles info@bearfoundation.org { MAILING LABELS HERE } Bear Tracts is published by ACBF, a volunteer run non-profit organization. We rely on your support and membership to help protect the Chilkoot River watershed for generations to come. Partnerships for Harmony in Nature