Abstract
Abstract Effective management of American black bears (Ursus americanus) requires an understanding of population demographics. In 2002, we obtained DNA from hair collected at barbed-wire traps to estimate black bear population size and study population genetics on Stockton (4,069 ha) and Sand (1,193 ha) islands at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (AINL), Wisconsin. Hair samples also were collected from 2 nuisance bears on Oak Island. We analyzed 372 hair samples from Stockton and Sand islands collected on 4 occasions at about 14-day intervals. Genetic analysis of 6 microsatellite DNA markers resulted in 71 captures of 26 individuals on Stockton Island and 13 captures of 6 individuals on Sand Island. The estimated bear populations on Stockton and Sand islands were 26 (SE = 0.54, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 26–26) and 6 (SE = 0.60, 95% CI = 6–7) individuals, respectively. The estimated density on Stockton Island was 0.64 bears/km2 and on Sand Island was 0.50 bears/km2. Genetic variation within both isl...
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