Waterton Biosphere Reserve
P.O. Box 7 T0K1W0 Pincher Creek, AB, Canada

Did you know that the Deadstock Removal Program run by the Carnivores and Communities Program was established in 2009 and since its establishment has removed over 4,900 carcasses from the area at no cost to the producer. Removing carcasses is important because they are a major attractant for all large carnivores. To learn more about the CACP’s Deadstock Removal Program you can visit the Attractant Management section of the CACP webpage: https://www.watertonbiosphere.com/p.../carnivores-communities/ Photo by Nora Manners

Today we want to share with you the extensive and well put together guide, Reducing Conflict with Grizzly Bears, Wolves and Elk - A Western Landowners Guide. From the guide: This guide has been produced by and for landowners and practitioners constructively engaged in one of the greatest conservation challenges of our timehow to share and manage a wild, working landscape that sustains both people and wildlife. It is an indepth look at the ecology and behaviour of grizzly b...ears, wolves and elk; conflict management programs such as WBR’s Carnivores and Communities Program and Montana’s Blackfoot Challenge; the common issues landowners face; and strategies and practices to help with conflict management. This guide expresses the importance of collaboration and shares stories from landowners first hand experience. You can access @westernlandownersalliance ‘s Reducing Conflict with Grizzly Bears, Wolves and Elk - A Western Landowners Guide at the following link: https://www.watertonbiosphere.com//2019-ReducingConflict_W

Prairie Conservation Forum has launched an interactive webmap to visualize native prairie cover in Southern Alberta and how it has changed in recent decades. Use the map to explore native prairie landscapes in your region, and be sure to like and follow Prairie Conservation Forum to learn more about the State of the Prairie! https://www.albertapcf.org/state-of-the-prairie

Did you know that the Carnivores and Communities Program has completed 100 projects in the Waterton Biosphere Reserve? These projects include but are not limited to replacing carnivore damaged grain bin doors with bear-resistant doors, installing electric fences, replacing wooden grain bin floors and pouring cement ones, and upgrading wooden grain bins to hopper bottom bins. Do you have an attractant management project you would like the CACP’s help with? You could be the CACP’s 101st project! Contact Jeff Bectell, Coordinator of the CACP at [email protected] to see what can be done. Photo by Cooper Hayward

WBRA is hiring a part-time Carnivores and Communities Program Technician - Apply by February 16, 2021! The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association (WBRA) is looking for a skilled technician to support our Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP). The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable about reducing conflict between people and large carnivores in an agricultural setting and have the ability to work effectively with local landowners and partners. Click link to view the CAC...P Technician job posting: https://www.watertonbiosphere.com//WBRA-CACP-Tech-Posting- Candidate selection will begin on February 17, 2021. Photo by Danika Gerylo

Over the years, the Carnivores and Communities Program has brought folks in the WBR area together for many different workshops and events and participated in several more sponsored by other organizations. These events have included but were not limited to field and project tours, community carnivore information meetings, presentations on topics such as predator compensation and large carnivore monitoring, and workshops addressing issues such as bear safety, mortality composti...ng, and livestock guardian dogs. The CACP is wanting to hear from you. What are you interested in getting more information on? Perhaps it’s something we can create a workshop or Zoom Webinar on, or maybe we can create some educational materials for WBR residents. We’re interested in what you have to say. You can contact Jeff Bectell, the Carnivores and Communities Program Coordinator with your thoughts [email protected]. Photo Credit: P. Manners (2014)

We want to share with you this extensive and incredibly well put together guide on Wildlife Friendly Fencing produced by Alberta Conservation Association and MULTISAR as it is valuable information for any Alberta landholder. This guide is made for landholders with stories from landholders. From the guide: ...not all fences create problems for wild animals. By tailoring fence design and placement, you can prevent wildlife injuries and decrease damage to your fence. Many of t...hese methods are low cost or can save money in the long run by reducing the need for future fence repair. This guide will help you construct and modify fences and crossings that are friendlier to wildlife while still meeting fencing needs. It will also help you with sources for technical assistance and possible cost-share opportunities. While primarily helping landholders to make their fences safer and more permeable to wildlife, this guide also recognizes that sometimes in order to coexist with wildlife, fences must be built to exclude them. Carnivores and Communities Program Coordinator Jeff Bectell explains how electric fences have been successfully used to deter large carnivores from accessing livestock and stored feed in WBR (page 59). Electric fencing and fladry techniques used in neighbouring jurisdictions are also explored on pages 60-63. You can access the Alberta Landholder’s Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fencing through the link below: https://www.watertonbiosphere.com//ACA_Wildlife_Friendly_F

Spring rains. Photo by Jennifer Jenkins

Electric fencing can be an effective tool to prevent carnivores from accessing agricultural attractants. Depending on the attractant, fencing can be installed as a permanent or temporary measure. Six-strand electric fences, with alternating hot/cold wires, have been used successfully to deter bears in southwestern Alberta and across the world. Cost sharing is available for attractant management projects such as this. You can contact Jeff Bectell with any inquiries at [email protected]. For more information on electric fencing options refer to the WBR’s CACP Technical Guide watertonbiosphere.com//Electric-Fencing-WBR-Tech-Docs-21AP Photo Credit: AEP/WBR

Through the Carnivores and Communities Program, there is a potential for those in the Waterton Biosphere Reserve region to get financial help with large carnivore conflict mitigation projects. Cost sharing is available for a variety of attractant management projects such as electric fencing and grain bin upgrades/replacements. If you have an idea, we are happy to discuss it with you and see if we can help fund it! You can contact Jeff Bectell with any inquiries at [email protected]. Stay tuned as we will be posting about electric fencing and securing grain bins in the coming weeks. Photo Credit: Annie Loosen

The CACP focuses on reducing conflict between black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, and wolves and rural WBR residents. While all four large carnivores are involved in conflicts, the majority of conflicts in this region are attributed to grizzly bears and wolves. When conflicts occur between humans and large carnivores, the impacts on landowners are diverse and can include depredation of livestock or pets; consumption and spoilage of grain, silage and field crops; damage to ...beehives, grain bins and farm buildings; and concern for the safety of family and neighbours. These conflicts not only create increased safety risks and financial costs for people, but they also impact large carnivore populations because animals involved in conflict may be relocated or killed. We want to work with rural residents in the WBR to reduce conflicts with large carnivores so we can create a more successful coexistence for all involved. If you are dealing with a carnivore conflict, we would like to hear your story. And if you would like to discuss an attractant management project on your property, please contact: Jeff Bectell [email protected]. Photo Credits: Cougar (top left) and wolf (top right) by Jesse Tigner Black bear (bottom left) by Boyd Leavitt Grizzly bear (bottom right) by Spencer Rettler

Today’s CACP Spotlight is Elizabeth Anderson. Elizabeth is a biological consultant and editor who joined the WBRA as the Community Conservation Technician. She grew up in the Maritimes but settled in Alberta after completing her degree at the University of Alberta. In 2009, Elizabeth and her family moved to Crowsnest Pass to be closer to the family cattle operation near Cowley. Elizabeth has met with various landowners about their Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP) att...ractant management projects and is currently preparing a summary of projects undertaken from 2015 to 2019. She has also supported WBRA youth education activities related to bears and bear safety and has worked previously with Crowsnest Pass residents on reducing human-bear conflicts through removal of attractants. Seeing people figure out realistic solutions that allow them to live their lives while allowing wildlife to persist around them -- that is what fills Elizabeth's bucket at the end of the day. Photo Credit: Troi Crombie

Today’s CACP Spotlight is Andrea Morehouse. Andrea is an independent scientist who works on a variety of conservation and management issues related to large carnivores in multi-use landscapes. She moved to Alberta in 2007 and completed both an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in ecology at the University of Alberta. Through her research, she strives to effectively engage scientists, managers, and community members to develop and implement scientifically sound and socially workable wildlife co...nservation and management strategies. She joined the WBRA board of directors in 2014 and is currently the Carnivores and Communities Program Science Lead. In this role, she works to provide scientific guidance and perspective to the CACP activities. For more information about large carnivores in southwestern Alberta, please contact Andrea Morehouse at [email protected] . Photo Credit: Katalily Photography

This week we want to highlight the wonderful people that make up and run our Carnivores and Communities Program. They put so much time and care into running the program, communicating with community members, and mitigating conflicts between the carnivores and WBR landowners, including speaking with landowners, hearing their stories, and working together to create solutions. Today we are shining the spotlight on Jeff Bectell. Jeff ranches with his family south of Cardston. He... has served on the WBRA Board of Directors since 2009 and has coordinated the Carnivores and Communities Program since its inception. He enjoys working with farmers, ranchers, and others in trying to decrease conflict between people and large carnivores, and is grateful to help tell the inspiring stories of people who care about a place that has a lot to care about. If you would like to discuss an attractant management project on your property, please contact: Jeff Bectell [email protected]. Photo Credit: Lindy Bectell