Program and Conservation Coordinator - Chris Genovali
Grizzly Contaminant Coordinator - Misty MacDuffee
Guide Outfitter Program Coordinator - Brian Falconer
Grizzly Bears: At the Heart of Terrestrial Conservation
Before Europeans arrived in North America, a vast network of grizzly bear trails existed between California and Alaska. Today the southern extent of the grizzly’s coastal range has been destroyed, largely by habitat loss from logging and urbanization. Only a few isolated habitats are occupied by grizzlies below the 49th parallel. This is one reason why the Great Bear Rainforest is critically important - it is the most southerly grizzly bear population left on the Pacific coast and acts as a stronghold for North America’s remaining grizzlies.
In British Columbia, grizzly bears still face the same hunting and habitat pressures that extirpated their ancestors from their former ranges in Canada and the US. Declining salmon stocks, global pollutants and climate change are added stresses to coastal grizzly populations.
Raincoast’s work to protect grizzlies falls into three catagories.
1. We are working to end the sport hunting of grizzly bears; this includes the purchase of commercial hunting licenses,
2. We are working to secure adequate habitat protection,
3. We are furthering scientific understanding of the threats posed from chemical pollutants.
The links to these projects are below.
Scientific Papers:
Christensen, J.R., M. MacDuffee, M.B Yunker, and P.S. Ross. 2007. Hibernation associated changes in persistent organic pollutants (POP) levels and patterns in British Columbia grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Environmental Science and Technology. 41: 1834-1840
Christensen, J.R., M. MacDuffee, R.W. MacDonald, M. Whiticar, and P.S. Ross. 2005.
Persistent Organic Pollutants in British Columbia Grizzly Bears: Consequence of divergent diets. Environmental Science and Technology. 39: 6952-6960
Reports:
