1. Pennsylvania Game Commission Bear Tagging Program
Jake Brown

2. Outline History of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
Introduction of the Bear Tagging Program
The Tools the Game Commission Officers Use
Use of GIS
Summary
Questions

3. History of the Game Commission
Founded in 1895
Mission Statement: “ To manage Pennsylvania’s wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations.”
700 full time employees
1980’s Black bear management changed

4. Start of Bear Tagging 300-400 Bears harvested in the hunting season
Dr. Gary Alt
Goal of 7,500 bears and 1,500 yearly harvest
By 1997 expected 10,000 bears in state
40 out of 60 counties

5. Tagging Process Culvert traps, snare traps, tranquilizer darts Ear tag
Gum tattoo
Lincoln-Peterson index
566 bears tagged, 118 harvested, 21%
2110 bear total harvest
21% of bear population

6. Tools Used Traps Ear Tags Radio Collars Antenna Tranquilizer Gun

7. How Information is Used
Game Commission Officers tag bears
Information recorded and imported into a data base
Applied onto a map to show populations
Populations for 2016:
Estimated 20,000 across 50 counties
3,748 harvested in 2016 season

8. Summary History of Pennsylvania Game Commission
Start of the Bear Tagging Project
Tagging Process
The tools Used

9. Pennsylvania Weight Record Bear
879 pound live weight

10. Sources
Word of mouth from Game Commission officer Eric Stafferni, Bob Johnson

11. Questions?