An assessment and review of potential impacts of timber extraction from harvest blocks around Pete Lake in the Knight East Landscape Unit on the population of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Glendale-Tom Browne drainage

This report has been prepared in response to the proposed sale by BC Timber Sales of harvest blocks around Pete Lake in the Knight East Landscape Unit. These blocks fall within the range of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the neighboring Glendale-Tom Browne drainage which has been the subject of ongoing scientific investigation since 1997 by research teams from Utah State University, the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Cumbria. The report addresses spatial movement, connectivity and habitat use using both genetic tools and telemetry data. Telemetry data was collected at 30 minute intervals and is therefore highly auto-correlated; an innovative jack-knife randomization and multivariate statistical draws meaningful results from a rich but challenging dataset. Genetic analysis has established that the Glendale population is currently well connected with populations further North on the coast. Genetic comparison to populations at the heads of Knight and Bute Inlets should be considered to establish whether gene flow is occurring between Glendale and these populations