Living with Bears: Mapping Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Movement and Habitat Connectivity in California’s Northern Bay Area to Proactively Reduce Conflict

Black bears play a crucial ecological role as keystone species, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health through services such as seed dispersal, scavenging, and nutrient cycling. In recent years, black bears have been expanding their ranges into California’s Northern Bay Area. Known to be more abundant and smaller than their grizzly counterparts, they have similar impacts on the ecosystem as they increase soil fertilization through their hunting behaviors and influence the movement of other forest species. Their gradual movement through this changing ecosystem inevitably results in increased contact with humans in urban areas. While researchers are still unsure about the cause of this movement, it is becoming abundantly clear that there is a need to find methods of sustainable coexistence between humans and black bears.

To improve strategies for human-bear coexistence, we will map seasonal black bear movement and habitat suitability in the North Bay across seasons using DNA from scat and camera trap data. We will also examine black bear movement across highways to identify potential wildlife corridors connecting crucial habitats along Highway 101. Finally, we will develop land management recommendations to reduce human-wildlife conflict with the growing black bear population and cultivate educational outreach materials for residents and visitors.