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Do coastal brown bears at Katmai National Park like clams?/NPS

Coastal brown bears can get to be huge animals. With their hankering for salmon, they certainly get a lot of protein to help bulk up. But what about shellfish? Do the bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska relish clams, whether on the half shell or not?

That's a question researchers at the park hope to get some answers for this coming spring.

Clams and other intertidal invertebrates are known to be important early season forage for coastal brown bears along the Alaska Peninsula. This study will expand on this knowledge through a variety of projects. Researchers will map and measure clam and mussel beds along the Katmai and Lake Clark coasts. Wildlife biologists will collar and observe bears to document movement and use of coastal habitats. Working with park partners, we will evaluate the impacts of changing ocean conditions on intertidal communities. Together, we will gain valuable insight for long-term preservation of this dynamic nearshore connection. Field work for this exciting new project will begin in 2015 and continue through 2017.

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Coastal brown bears on the Alaska Peninsula are some of the largest in the world, thanks in part to abundant seasonal food resources. Spring is a critical time: after denning through the harsh winter months, yet before the summer and fall salmon runs. For female bears with cubs, finding food in the spring is especially important. Abundance of and access to spring forage, including clams, mussels and sedges, might mean all the difference to survival.

To better understand bear use and movement within coastal habitats and to measure the relative importance of early season forage to long-term health and survival, 12 female bears will be fitted with GPS collars each summer (2015-2017) along the Katmai Coast. Body condition will be evaluated each spring, summer, and fall to compare overall health throughout the season. Blood and hair samples will be collected to measure the relative amounts of marine-derived proteins within the bears’ diets over the entire season. Collaring and recapture of bears for habitat use and health assessments will provide new information on coastal brown bear ecology. Brown and tan collars will be used to reduce their visibility to the public.

Part of the study will involve mapping clam and mussel beds along the park's shorelines and noting the diversity of species and their populations.