Bears: A Presentation by Michael Allen

Join us on Thursday, December 7th at 6:30 pm, for a riveting talk on our furry neighbours- the bears, with independent researcher Michael Allen. In his talk, Michael will delve deep into the fascinating world of bears, including their abundance, survival skills, salmon consumption, and the impact of the 2-year drought.

For three decades, Michael has been keeping a close eye on the black bears in the Sea to Sky area, and since 2015, he’s been monitoring the survival of grizzly bears in the Squamish River watershed. Using high-resolution remote cameras, Michael has captured the bears’ identity and seasonal activity, providing invaluable insights into their behaviours and habits.

Michael Allen currently maintains a network of 45 remote cameras that have high resolution and are used for monitoring large carnivores such as grizzly bears, black bears, timberwolves, and mountain lions throughout the waterways present in the Squamish River watershed.

Additionally, seasonal cameras are set up in Whistler, along the Birkenhead River, and the Duffey Lake area. The primary focus is on the black bears and mountain lions, and Michael has been observing individual animals over several years. The trail cameras are useful in comparing the behaviours of grizzlies and wolves. Several of these cameras are permanent and have been operating for over eight years, providing insights into wildlife behaviours that humans rarely get to observe.