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Proposed Changes - Bear Management Plan

Proposed Changes - Bear Management Plan

The current bear management plan was finalized in 2009, and is currently in the process of being updated. Input was previously gathered from bear management stakeholders and citizens on the 2009 plan. The summary of proposed changes to the plan are listed below.

Original Plan Management Goals Proposed Changes To Management Goals Changes Made?
5.1 Maintain a Sustainable Population within Biological Carrying Capacity Goal 1. Manage for a Sustainable Population within Biological and Social Carrying Capacity Yes
5.2 Facilitate Bear-Related Benefits Existence value, ecological roles,
recreational viewing opportunities, recreation hunting		 Goal 2. Facilitate Bear-Related Benefits Existence value, ecological roles, recreational
viewing opportunities, recreation hunting		 No
5.3 Minimize Bear-Related Conflicts Apiaries, orchards, other crops,
domestic animals, anxieties of bears in residential or rec areas, impacts
on other game species, bird feeders		 Goal 3. Minimize Bear-Related Conflicts Apiaries, orchards, other crops, domestic
animals, anxieties of bears in residential or rec areas, impacts on other game
species, bird feeders		 No
5.4 Conduct Science-Based and Socially Acceptable Management Goal 4. Conduct Science-Based and Socially Responsible Management Yes

 

Original Plan Strategies Proposed Changes To Strategies Changes Made?
6.1 Use Hunting as the Primary Tool for Maintaining a Sustainable Bear
Population Within Social and Biological Limits		 Strategy 1. Use Hunting as the Primary Tool for Maintaining a Sustainable Bear Population
Within Social and Biological Carrying Capacity		 Yes
6.2 Manage Social Aspects of Bear Recreation to Reduce User-Conflicts
and Maintain Recreational Opportunities		 Strategy 2. Manage Social Aspects of Bear Recreation to Reduce User-Conflicts and
Maintain Recreational Opportunities		 No
6.3 Increase Public Awareness and Understanding of Bears
and Bear-Related Issues		 Strategy 3. Increase Public Awareness and Understanding of Bears and Bear-Related Issues No
6.4 Maintain Active Bear Research and Monitoring Programs Strategy 4. Maintain Active Bear Research and Monitoring Programs No
6.5 Maintain Habitat Necessary to Sustain Desired Bear Populations Strategy 5. Maintain Habitat Necessary to Sustain Desired Bear Populations No
6.6 Achieve Compatibility between Bear Distribution and Abundance
and Social Carrying Capacity		 REMOVED Yes
6.7 Manage Negative Bear-Human Interactions Strategy 6. Manage Bear-Human Interactions Yes

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.1 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 1 Changes Made?
6.1.1 Encourage agency and public participation in development of harvest
strategies and regulations		 Objective 1.1 Develop recommendations regarding harvest strategies and regulations
with participation from agencies and the public		 Yes
6.1.2 Maintain bear populations at desired levels through a tiered management
approach that uses eco-regional goals as well as bear management unit objectives		 Objective 1.2 Maintain bear populations at desired abundance levels in bear
management units		 Yes
6.1.3 Use bear management units to distribute hunters and bear harvest within
eco-regions		 Objective 1.3 Use bear management units to distribute hunters and bear harvest
within regions		 Yes
6.1.4 Set license quota to achieve regional harvest Objective 1.4 Set license quota to achieve desired bear management unit harvest Yes
6.1.5 Allow bear population to expand naturally into southern Michigan to the
extent social acceptance allows		 Objective 1.5 Allow bear population to expand naturally into southern Michigan
to the extent social acceptance allows		 Yes

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.2 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 2 Changes Made?
6.2.1 Season structure and timing changes and evaluation related to
recreational conflict		 Objective 2.1 Use and evaluate season structure and timing changes to reduce recreational
conflicts and promote opportunities		 Yes
6.2.2 Reduce trespass conflicts between bear houndsmen and private
landowners		 Objective 2.2 Work cooperatively with partners to reduce trespass conflicts between bear
hound hunters and private landowners		 Yes
6.2.3 Reduce conflicts relating to bear baiting regulations Objective 2.3 Reduce conflicts relating to bear baiting regulations No
6.2.4 Encourage the retention of hunting opportunities Objective 2.4 Encourage the retention and promotion of hunting opportunities Yes

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.3 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 3 Changes Made?
6.3.1 Coordinate with partners to develop and implement a bear-based
information and education program		 Objective 3.1 Coordinate with partners on a bear-based information and education
program		 No
6.3.2 Support training opportunities for staff and partners involved in the
bear-based information and education program		 Objective 3.2 Support training opportunities for staff and partners involved in the
bear-based information and education program		 Yes
6.3.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of the bear-based information and
education program		 Objective 3.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of the bear-based information and education
program and adapt program based on results		 No
N/A Objective 3.4 Promote consistent public understanding of the benefits and costs associated
with particular bear abundance levels		 Yes

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.4 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 4 Changes Made?
6.4.1 Monitor the abundance of bears in Michigan Objective 4.1 Monitor the abundance of bears in Michigan No
6.4.2 Monitor the health of bears in Michigan Objective 4.2 Monitor the health of bears in Michigan No
6.4.3 Investigate biological and social factors relevant to bear management Objective 4.3 Investigate biological and social factors relevant to bear management No
6.4.4 Coordinate with partners to support a bear research program Objective 4.4 Coordinate with partners to support a bear research program No

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.5 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 5 Changes Made?
6.5.1 Promote maintenance of large ownership blocks and large contiguous
forest areas		 Objective 5.1 Work with DNR and partners to promote maintenance of large
ownership blocks and large contiguous forest areas		 Yes
6.5.2 Maintain habitat linkages to allow bear dispersal Objective 5.2 Maintain habitat linkages to allow bear dispersal No
6.5.3 Provide direction for local, regional, and statewide habitat planning
efforts within the DNR and with other agencies and private landowners
on bear habitat requirements		 Objective 5.3 Provide direction for local, regional, and statewide habitat planning
efforts within the DNR and with other agencies and private landowners on bear
habitat requirements		 No

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.6 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 6 Changes Made?
6.6.1 Promote consistent public understanding and appreciation of the
benefits and costs associated with particular bear levels		 Moved to strategy 3 Yes
6.6.2 Manage bear-related interactions to increase public tolerance for bears Moved to new strategy 6 Yes

 

Original Bear Plan - Objectives for Strategy 6.7 Proposed Changes - Objectives for Strategy 6 Changes Made?
6.7.1 Promote accurate public perceptions of the human-safety risks posed
by bears and minimize actual human-safety threats		 Objective 6.1 Promote accurate public perceptions of the human-safety risks posed by
bears and minimize actual human-safety threats		 No
6.7.2 Provide timely and professional responses to reports of bear damage Objective 6.2 Provide timely and professional responses to reports of bear damage No
6.7.3 Minimize the occurrence of negative human-bear interactions Objective 6.3 Minimize the frequency of negative human-bear interactions Yes
N/A Objective 6.4 Manage bear-related interactions to increase public tolerance for bears Yes