North Carolina Project
Black bear abundance and density in the North Carolina Coastal Bear Management Unit
January 2023 - December 2026
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Black bear populations in the North Carolina Coastal Bear Management Unit (CBMU) have increased over the past 50 years, and now occur at high densities in multiple regions. The project herein aims to produce unbiased population density and abundance estimates for the CBMU, assess the population structure of current CBMU zones using local density and population genetics, and evaluate the potential of less intensive alternative protocols for long-term monitoring objective. The project is a collaboration of researchers across multiple agencies and includes North Carolina State University, USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Mississippi State University, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.