Caption for cover photo for February issue of Ecography, related to article by Stetz, Mitchell, and Kendall: Using spatially-explicit capture–recapture models to explain variation in seasonal density patterns of sympatric ursids

Remote photo of a grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) rubbing on a tree in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.  Counter to claims that rubbing is a form of dominance behavior, both male and female grizzly, as well as American black bears (U. americanus), are known to visit the same bear rubs. From these visits, hair samples can be collected for genetic analyses to look at a large suite of research and management questions. We used multilocus genotypes from these samples, in conjunction with those from hair collected at more systematically-distributed baited sites, in spatially-explicit capture-recapture models. This framework allowed us to explore hypotheses regarding the spatio-temporally varying density patterns we have observed in this population. Our results suggest that these species, which are ecologically very similar in this region, may influence density patterns of each other more than previously thought.  These insights could inform ongoing and future efforts to reintroduce or augment bear populations, both important tools for eventual recovery of small and isolated populations.

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