Is Relocation a Viable Option?

One of the most difficult issues wildlife managers struggle with is the issue of RELOCATION. Is it a viable option?

Traditional relocation involves removing a 'problem' bear from the point of trouble to a wilderness area, in the hope that the bear will revert back to natural behaviour patterns and avoid humans and human settlements.

Unfortunately, bear relocations are viewed by some biologists to have limited success. Relocated bears experience considerable stress associated with locating new food sources, security habitat, and bedding and denning sites within the release area to the extent that it can affect their survival. Competition with resident bears of the new area may lead to injury or death inflicted by the more dominant bear in its quest for, or defense of, habitat. The bears that do survive, often become a 'problem' in the new area or return to their original territory where they continue to be a problem.

The merit of relocating black bears has been questioned for some time now. In fact long distance relocation of black bears is no longer considered a viable option by the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. This decision was as a result of the low success rate of relocation, the high cost, and the time consuming nature of this management technique. Because of the grizzly bear’s threatened status, considerable effort is put toward relocating grizzlies.

Nonetheless, relocation can be effective under a variety of circumstances. For instance, if the bear is released in its original territory and is aggressively hazed and harassed - this will send the bear a clear message that its behaviour will not be tolerated and will further reinstill its natural desire to avoid humans discouraging its return. Concerns associated with traditional relocation are no longer an issue. (For more information, “Using Non-lethal Tools in Conjunction with Live Traps and Relocation” of the Non-lethal Bear Management Guidebook). Short-distance relocation can also be very effective when used to manage young adolecent males, as these bears have just been dispersed from their mother's natal range and are looking for a new home range.

Relocation, in itself, is not a viable long-term solution to human-bear conflicts, because the source of the problem remains. The stimuli that created the human-habituated or garbage-conditioned bear remains. Problem bear behaviour is almost always as a result of the availability of non-natural attractants (usually garbage); which is the direct result of human action and waste mismanagement. This indicates a human management problem and should signal the need for human management action – by providing bear-proof waste facilities as well as providing information, education and enforcement programs. These proactive measures should be combined with non-lethal bear management techniques to mitigate any conflicts that still occur.