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The effects of forest fires on polar bear maternity denning habitat in western Hudson Bay

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Abstract

The effects of forest fires on polar bear (Ursus maritimus) maternity denning habitat in western Hudson Bay were determined by comparing the physical characteristics of 48 burned and 101 unburned maternity den sites from September 2001 to October 2003. Fire significantly altered vegetation composition and increased the depth of the active layer, resulting in a decrease in the stability of den sites, the collapse of dens, and degradation of the surrounding habitat. Although bears investigated burned areas, analysis of mark and recapture data, satellite telemetry, radio-telemetry, and field observations all demonstrated that bears did not use burned areas for denning. While peat denning habitat is likely not limiting at this time, the re-use and occupancy of peat den sites during the summer may be an important means of energy conservation for pregnant female bears in western Hudson Bay. Increased energy expenditures in association with increased search times for suitable den sites and the excavation of new dens can potentially affect reproductive success. Predicted increases in forest fire activity as a result of climate change, along with the long-term recovery of denning habitat may reduce the amount of suitable denning habitat in the future. Resource managers need to be aware of the possibility of a shift in the distribution of denning bears and further loss of maternity denning habitat in western Hudson Bay.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Parks Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Polar Bears International, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (Ian Stirling), Northern Science Training Program, University of Alberta and the Churchill Northern Studies Centre for providing financial support to this project. D. Andriashek, N. Lunn, S. Sutton, K. Burke, J. Henderson all provided assistance in the field. R. Brook provided access to the Wapusk National Park vegetation map and the original satellite imagery. N. Lunn provided valuable comments on the initial manuscript. We thank Andy Derocher and one anonymous reviewer for their constructive criticism, which improved the overall quality of the manuscript.

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  1. Canadian Wildlife Service, 5320-122 St., Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6H 3S5

    E. Richardson & I. Stirling

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, R3T 2N2

    E. Richardson & I. Stirling

  3. Meteorological Service of Canada, #200, 4999-98 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6B 2X3

    B. Kochtubajda

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Correspondence to E. Richardson.

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Richardson, E., Stirling, I. & Kochtubajda, B. The effects of forest fires on polar bear maternity denning habitat in western Hudson Bay. Polar Biol 30, 369–378 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0193-7

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