Ryan H. Williamson | Geology Reports

USGS2026

Effectiveness of black bear translocation as a conflict management tool

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) in Tennessee and North Carolina, USA, has a high-density American black bear ( Ursus americanus ) population and high human visitation, resulting in frequent human–bear conflicts. Translocation is a common tool for conflict mitigation, but previous research at GRSM based on very high frequency (VHF) telemetry and eartag returns found that the fates of most translocated conflict bears were unknown, thereby leaving many unanswered questions about the fates and movements of translocated bears, including their propensity for engaging in recurrent human–bear conflicts. We equipped 50 bears involved in human–bear conflicts in GRSM with global positioning system (GPS) radio-collars and translocated them to Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee. We used those GPS location data to evaluate survival, recurrence of conflict activity, homing rate, and settling rate. Many of these bears were released in the Pigeon River gorge (PRG), where we also collared 37 resident bears to compare survival rates and movement patterns. Known-fate models indicated that the mean annual survival probability for translocated bears across the study area during all years (2015–2024) was 0.223 (95% CI = 0.107–0.339), whereas the survival of translocated bears and resident bears in the PRG during years 2022–2024 was 0.210 (95% CI = 0.000–0.445) and 0.787 (95% CI = 0.632–0.942), respectively. Annual survival of translocated bears was also lower (0.034, 95% CI = 0.000–0.125) than their non-translocated counterparts that remained in GRSM (0.869, 95% CI = 0.762–0.976) from 2015–2018. Harvest was the greatest overall mortality risk for all translocated bears (0.482, 95% CI = 0.326–0.638), and translocated bears were at greater risk of harvest (0.750, 95% CI = 0.350–1.000) than residents (0.136, 95% CI = 0.000–0.280) in the PRG. The annual probability of translocated bears returning to their original capture locations (i.e., homing) decreased with distance translocated and averaged 0.615 (95% CI = 0.341–0.889) for adults and 0.111 (95% CI = 0.000–0.318) for subadults. For every 1-km increase in distance translocated, the weekly odds of a bear homing decreased by a factor of 0.975 ( ̂𝛽 = −0.025, 85% CI = −0.046 to −0.004). The annual probability of recurrent conflict for translocated bears, defined as a report to agency officials by landowners, was 0.388 (95% CI = 0.190–0.586). Recurrent conflict increased with the level of food conditioning ( ̂𝛽 = 0.334, 85% CI = 0.098–0.570). Public education and improved waste management are paramount to prevent human–bear conflicts, as translocation and other bear-centered options may not accomplish desired outcomes.

North Carolina, Tennessee↗

USGS2023

A multi-level modeling approach to guide management of female feral hogs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We trapped, anesthetized, and fit 16 female feral swine ( Sus scrofa ) with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) to develop predictive summer and winter models for more effective population control efforts. Given the highly diverse habitat and topography in GRSM and the spatial extent of our dataset, we employed Step Selection Function (SSF) to evaluate resource selection at the 3 rd -order level and Resource Selection Function (RSF) models at the 2 nd -order level for both summer and winter seasons. The summer SSF and RSF models suggested relatively similar levels of selection, whereas the winter models differed by method. We created a straightforward consensus model to better visualize the agreement and constraints of each set of models. In summer, feral swine used lower slopes regardless of elevation, especially those closer to human-dominated spaces such as along paved and gravel roadways. In winter, feral swine maintained preference for lower slopes but preferred oak-dominated forest areas and selection for human development was less than in summer. Wildlife managers can use these models to better focus feral swine surveillance and management in GRSM. Managers can identify areas of high use by season and plan control activities that are both accessible and highly efficient. The combination and consensus framework presented here can be applied to other systems where species’ habitat selection may result in incongruous results across different levels of selection or seasons of interest.

Tennessee↗