Alberta Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan 2008-2013 - Alberta Sustainable ...

ecommended as a surrogate for amount of human use (local level assessments will be
used to determine which routes are used and how much they are used). Lower open route
densities should reduce rates of human-bear interactions and ultimately reduce rates of
human-caused mortality. For the east slopes region of Alberta, Nielsen et al. (2004a) has
presented models and maps of grizzly bear mortality risk. These spatial models combine
risk factors to produce a numerical score of risk of human-caused mortality (and will be
able to account for regional differences). These models are currently being updated and
integrated for other areas of Alberta. The Team recommends replacing open route density
with mortality risk values as a measure of success, once sufficient data have been
collected and model development and validation are complete.
Access Types
Road – access that is reasonably and prudently drivable with on-highway vehicles.
Trail – access that is not reasonably and prudently drivable with on-highway vehicles
Motorized Trail – trail that receives motorized use, such as ATVs, trail bikes, and 4WD vehicles
Route – Roads and trails that receive motorized use (including seismic lines)
Open route – A route without restrictions on motorized vehicle use
Restricted route – A route on which motorized use is controlled in time, space, or activity for the
purposes of grizzly bear conservation and/or protection of other natural resources. Motorized use by
personnel of resource management agencies, contractors, and permittees is acceptable at low
intensity levels as defined by convention (e.g. USA: 80 vehicles/month insert values (USDA 1990),
Canada: 100 vehicles/month (Gibeau 1998), mortality risk models, or other relevant analysis.
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