Evaluation of an Aversive Conditioning Technique Used on Female Grizzly Bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract

Behavioral responses to aversive conditioning techniques by nuisance, radio-collared female grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) were studied in the Yellowstone ecosystem during 1986-89. Five females, 2 accompanied by their young, were treated 27 times with an aversive conditioning agent paired with a conditioned stimulus. Sample sizes were too small to fully evaluate responses to the conditioning stimulus, but positive trends occurred. When the aversive agent was applied, all bears responded by running from the trial site without displaying aggression. Capturing nuisance bears and removing the unnatural attractants often caused the bears to leave the problem area and precluded testing. No nuisance adult male grizzly bears engaged in nuisance behavior following initial capture and radiocollaring. Attempts to aversive condition an underweight, subadult female with poor dentition failed. This report includes recommendations for further application of aversive conditioning techniques on grizzly bears in the Yellowstone ecosystem.