What we experienced through the month of May was a minimum of 64 different black bears (34 males, 23 females and nine cubs-of-the-year) funneled through Whistler's valley bottom (13 bears) and adjacent ski trails (53). Bears were lured to lower elevations (below 800 metres elevation) due to colder temperatures and a deeper, late winter snowpack prolonging the green-up that bears require in spring.

Whistler Blackcomb supports the highest number so far: 53 black bears including 24 males, 20 females and nine cubs-of-the-year. Bear class composition is 17 adult males, 14 adult females, seven immature males, six immature females, and nine cubs-of-the-year.

In addition, I identified 15 black bears along Highway 99 from the Function Junction rail intersection to Alice Lake Park turn-off and 14 black bears along the secondary road to the Callaghan Recreation Area not including the Whistler Olympic Park, bringing the total minimum black bears identified to 93. It is difficult to count bears in Whistler valley because human-bear interaction is high and since I am not a recognized bear authority, it is difficult to access private areas.

So use caution interpreting the number of bears identified for valley bottom plus golf courses. However, 60 per cent of male bears that were identified to use the ski area also use the Chateau Golf Course and to a lesser extent the other two golf courses. The Nicholas North golf course seems to have its own set of dominant males that have never been observed in the ski area. In the spring, as males are re-establishing their status at the start of the mating period, male bears are very mobile between residential areas, golf courses, and the ski area. As the year progresses, mostly subadult males disperse from the ski area through golf course habitats as dominant males move to higher elevations.

The Whistler Blackcomb ski area supports the highest number so far with 51 black bears including 21 males, 19 females and 11 cubs-of-the-year. Sex of cubs will be determined in July. Bear class composition is 14 adult males, 14 adult females, seven immature males, five immature females and 11 cubs-of-the-year. Three adult females that were due to have cubs have yet to be re-sighted. Females often place themselves at the upper elevation/limit of spring food to avoid the concentration of feeding bears and lessen the frequency of encounters with males. Males may try to kill spring cubs to force the mother back into breeding mode.

Females with cubs in the first spring do not breed until the second spring after family break-up. So far, no cubs were lost during May, although, Katie, whose emergence was documented with a remote camera, had pictures taken of her with one black and one brown cub at the den on April 17. She was seen later, away from den with two black cubs, so it is possible that for some reason she lost one brown cub.

Bear activity is peaking in the valley but bears are now beginning to follow the slow progression of green-up to 1,000 metres elevation and should reach 1400-metres at mid-mountain by the end of June.

All 93 bears identified were known animals (previously identified) with the exception of two adult males along highway 99 and one male in the Callaghan Valley. All three males ran immediately from human presence and are possibly not accustomed to feeding near human-active development.

I identify bears based on a combination of coat color (black and different shades of brown), neck and chest markings, facial coloration, scars and head/body morphology. A detailed index has been maintained on photo-identified bears since 1994. The longevity in which an animal's appearance is recorded supports the power of a continued successful identification.

The remainder of June should see more bears arrive as the mating period peaks. Peak mating could extend into July because of the slowed availability of spring forage - bears like to have a good feed and get protein levels up before mating.

The major concern for this year is the continued cold temperatures and lack of sunny days, which has already negatively impacted the fall berry crop. Low-elevation berry ripening will be late and mid-mountain shrubs that were uncovered during the last month have suffered much frost damage. The resulting berry availability will be "patchy" as phenology has been uneven. High elevation berries have been totally covered by snow and thus protected from cold temperatures but the longer berries remain buried, the later the berry ripening - and the shorter the period bears will have to fatten for next winter.

By early July I will be able to provide a detailed description of the May-June population and forecast for fall bear-berry relationships.

Thanks to all who have shared sightings and images.

Questions or sightings can be sent to mallen_coastbear@direct.ca.