FMOR
Projects
Rasmuson Funds Photo ID Project
An idea that had been anticipated for years moved closer to reality this year. Friends of McNeil River (FOMR) received word that their request for funding assistance for the photo ID project at McNeil River State Game Sanctuary was approved by the Rasmuson Foundation.
Additional funding is always appreciated. Anyone wishing to help fund the photo id project may make donations through our website www.mcneilbears.org to use their credit card with PayPal. Some folks have already stepped forward to help, but more help is needed. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the field workbook, keep checking this website for word of the first edition publishing date and methodology for obtaining your own copy.
In February of 2008, the Board of FOMR submitted an application for funding assistance for a photographic identification project that will enable the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to better monitor the population of bears frequenting the Sanctuary as well as develop a catalog of individual bears that congregate at McNeil River and Mikfik Creek Falls. Utilizing new technology to replace the pencil drawing / field notebook system of census taking will provide a more accurate census and a database for future studies.
The photo ID project is an innovative example of a cooperative effort between a government agency and the private sector. ADF&G recognizes the great benefit of inventorying and cataloging the individual bears of McNeil to better understand population, behavior and fishing styles. State funding for this project is not possible. The cutbacks in state budgets and the need for ADF&G to focus priority on the operation of the permit viewing activity and maintenance of the refuge facilities took priority.
Our project was designed so that once start up costs are secured it can be sustained with program receipts. Sanctuary staff has a unique and extraordinary opportunity to observe and photograph these bears. Using digital photography, they can replace the current system which involves identification through pencil drawing and field notebook.
Our plan is that the project will enable the development of a database that includes census, age and gender mix. Additionally, information about specific animals and family bloodlines, unique physical characteristics, injuries, fishing styles, and timing of visits will also be tracked. Cataloging of the data will be done in a way that allows access by the public and organizations involved in resource management. In the future ADF&G may add genetic testing results to the database.
Of particular interest to those visiting McNeil will be the development of a smaller, user-friendly, field workbook version of the catalog. This Field Workbook will be developed from the Sanctuary data and printed for sale to the public. Revenues generated from the McNeil River Bear Field Workbook will fund continuation of the project. Our hope is that maintenance of the equipment, printing, and miscellaneous production costs will be supported by fund raising effort s by FOMR and sales of the workbooks. Some migratory studies have been contemplated once the data base is well established to attempt visual identification of McNeil River bears in adjoining parcels.
On July 1 last year we learned that the Rasmuson Foundation agreed to help with the project through funding for printing of the Workbook. FOMR then committed itself to the project through purchase of a field ready laptop computer. The computer is the repository of the data gathered so far by the field staff from the sanctuary. Tom Griffin, Sanctuary Technician, has volunteered his time and photographic talent to the project. We are so lucky to have his dedication and support as he spends his free time this winter culling through photos and identifying individual bears and characteristics. We see Dolly & her cubs below from the collection of photos being used to prepare this workbook.
A committee of volunteers has come together to offer assistance, advice and support for the project. We have agreed on a format and believe that 30 some individual bears can be included in the workbook. Because funding came late in the 2008 field season, we have decided to self publish our first edition as a trial for this upcoming season. We believe this will give us valuable insight into the final product that will be released for sale in 2010.
Visitors to the sanctuary will be encouraged to use the photo id book as a working field book by making notes about the bears for inclusion in the appropriate locations. If an identified bear is not in the book, visitors are encouraged to try their hand at taking identifying photographs and notes. Our self published first edition will be available early summer 2009 and will be available on a limited basis. Let us know right away if you are interested in receiving a copy. The cost will be minimal and funds will be used to prepare the 2010 edition for formal publishing.
We look forward to your thoughts and comments on this exciting project! Thanks go to Tom, Shawn, Larry, Colleen, Mike, Joe, Ed and Lennie for all their collaborative efforts. We could not do it without your help. Special thanks too, to the staff and Board of Rasmuson Foundation who put their faith and funding in FOMR and thereby are supporting the bears of McNeil River.
