Small, isolated wildlife populations are often at great conservation risk. Quantitative monitoring of their conservation status over time and evidence of recovery is relatively rare. We carried out population surveys of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) pre– (2005) and post– (2020–2021) conservation management, to assess the efficacy of strategic measures applied to the at-risk Canadian South Selkirk grizzly bear population in southeastern British Columbia. We evaluated our management outcomes by comparing our recent survey results with recovery targets outlined in a 2016 Recovery Management Plan, which included abundance, trend, number and distribution of females, distribution of reproductive females, mortality rates, and inter-population connectivity. Surveys consisted of remote genetic sampling where DNA from hair roots generated genotypes identifying individuals, sex, and family units. In 2020–2021, we identified 73 individuals (41 females, 32 males) that were used in a spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) density estimate, and 8 individuals sampled opportunistically at rub sites that were used in our connectivity analysis. We estimated the average number of bears using the area at any one time to be 69 (95% CI = 56–86). This estimate exceeded our closure-corrected recovery target of 60 bears. Densities were highest in the northern and central portions of the area, but the average density was estimated to be 17 grizzly bears/1,000 km2 (95% CI = 14–22). Female distribution and evidence of reproduction varied spatially but occurred in all 6 delineated subunits, which exceeded our target of occurring in 5 subunits. Human-caused female mortality reported over the past 6 years was 0.5 bears/year, well below our target of 1 bear/year. We identified 9 immigrants (1F, 8M) from the Purcell Mountains who bred 27 offspring (12F, 15M) with other South Selkirk mates. This level of connectivity and gene flow represented a substantial increase for this previously fragmented population. Our results suggest that 15 years of conservation management have significantly improved the status of the Canadian South Selkirk grizzly bear population.
- Volume 36
- Issue 13
- Pages 1-26
- Publication Date 8 December 2025
- DOI 10.2192/URSUS-D-24-00012
- File Size 1.21 MB
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