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Shrews
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BEARSBlack bear Shoh rzui Ursus americanusThe black bear is found throughout the Yukon with sight records from the arctic coast at Shingle Point and the Babbage River (Youngman 1975). The northernmost Yukon specimen records are several specimens from various localities along the Old Crow River (140o, below Black Fox Creek, north of Johnson Creek), and 30 km north of Old Crow (Youngman 1975). Members of the International Boundary Survey noted that black bears became quite scarce north of Rampart House, although they saw black bears north to the flats of the Old Crow River. They thought it unlikely that they would be found north of the Old Crow River (International Boundary Commission 1918). Black bears are said to inhabit the forests and bush-covered areas within the Old Crow Flats area, while Grizzly bears remain near the edge of timber and on the mountains (Balikci 1963). The 1912 survey parties were bothered by black bears disturbing and scattering the contents of food caches which had not been placed on high platforms (International Boundary Commission 1918). There are no recent observations of black bears within Vuntut National Park or the SMA by Park staff (Markel pers. comm. 2000). Between 1980 and 1993 only two bears were harvested in the Old Crow Group Trapping Area (Government of Yukon 1993). Grizzly bear Shih Ursus arctosDistribution Grizzly bears are found throughout the Yukon north to the arctic coast (Youngman 1975). Their present distribution is thought to be a result of expansion of their range from Beringia after glacial times as no fossil grizzlies from pre-Wisconsinan time are known from North America (Youngman 1975). The International Boundary Commission (1918) noted many tracks and evidence of bears digging for ground squirrels along Aspen Creek, and commented that "it is unlikely that they range north of this creek" (International Boundary Commission 1918). However it was also noted that many tracks were seen north of the British Mountains along the gravel banks of creeks flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Today grizzly bears are found throughout Ivvavik and Vuntut National Parks (MacHutchon 2000). Parks staff have seen grizzly bears on almost every trip into the Park and evidence of their presence is abundant; tracks, marks on trees, and diggings. Family groups have been seen at Timber Creek, Mount Ammerman, the foothills of the British Mountains, and the northeast corner of the Park near Black Fox and Dog Creeks (Markel pers.comm. 1999). The Yukon population of grizzly bear is listed by COSEWIC in the "Special Concern Category" (COSEWIC 2000). The designation "Special Concern" (formerly "Vulnerable") refers to "a species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events." Natural History Information on seasonal distribution, movements, group sizes and composition, feeding, and denning of grizzly bears in the northern Yukon were made during studies of the Porcupine caribou herd in 1972 (Ruttan 1974). Ruttan (1974) noted an apparent partial segregation between solitary bears and female bears with cubs. Solitary bears were most abundant in the Old Crow Flats, in the area around Timber Creek, Thomas Creek, the headwaters of the Old Crow River, and along the Firth River above Joe Creek. Females with cubs were most abundant in the mountains from the Bell and Driftwood Rivers, northwest through the Barn and British Mountains (Ruttan 1974). MacHutchon (2000) summarizes northern bear research findings (mostly carried out on grizzly bears, but some on black bears) and he puts forth a suggested bear management strategy for Vuntut National Park and the Old Crow Special Management Area. Note: This section is not developed as much as others because of a Parks Canada-sponsored current ongoing research project. A report by MacHutchon (2000) reviews current ecological information about both species of bears in and around the Old Crow Special Management Area. Polar bear Ursus maritimusAlthough polar bears are generally considered to be a marine mammal, they occasionally are found at great distances from the sea. Common along the Yukon's arctic coast where several denning areas are known (Jingfors 1993), polar bears have also been seen in the Old Crow area and as far south as the upper Porcupine River. Leechman (1954) records a sighting in the Old Crow Hills in about 1942 or 1943 and a bear that was shot at the headwaters of the Porcupine River in the winter of 1945-46. The "very thin" bear was shot when it attacked a dog. Youngman (1975) relates the story of an encounter between Charlie Peter Charlie of Old Crow and two polar bears on the Old Crow Flats near Dechyoo Njik (Fafard 1999) in the early spring (date unknown). Charlie shot both bears at close range after sending his family and dog team ahead. Another polar bear was killed about 1946 by C. P. Charlie's father at Johnson Village, near the confluence of the Little Porcupine and the Porcupine River (Youngman 1975). The skin of the polar bear shot in 1945-46 was offered for sale in the summer of 1946 (Leechman 1954). All polar bear populations are designated in the category "Special Concern" (COSEWIC 2000). |
