Joining the American Bear Foundation
I am excited to announce that I have joined the American Bear Foundation as the Director of Technology and as a founding board member of the Oregon Chapter. The American Bear Foundation is an all-volunteer non-profit dedicated to the conservation of all bear species and their habitats. With a mission to support ethical hunting practices, promote education, and advance habitat preservation, the foundation plays a critical role in ensuring sustainable bear populations for future generations. As part of this growing community, I’m excited to contribute my skills and passion to enhance these efforts in Oregon and beyond.
Why Bear Conservation is Important
Oregon’s black bear population is both robust and dynamic, requiring thoughtful management to balance the needs of wildlife and human communities. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the state’s black bear population benefits from healthy habitats but also faces challenges such as habitat fragmentation and increasing human-wildlife interactions.
The ODFW’s 2025 Big Game Regulations Proposal highlights several strategies for managing black bears, including improving data collection on population trends and maintaining sustainable harvest levels. According to the proposal, data-driven approaches such as increasing the use of mandatory reporting and refining harvest metrics are critical to ensuring population health. Recent studies indicate that Oregon’s black bear population remains stable, with annual harvest rates typically aligning with established quotas. However, certain regions require closer monitoring due to higher human-wildlife conflict rates.
Effective conservation isn’t just about numbers; it’s about understanding the ecological role of bears and the cultural and economic value they provide. For example, black bears are deeply tied to the traditions of indigenous communities and are a key species with a long-standing place in our hunting heritage. Additionally, responsible population management supports ecological balance by ensuring that black bears continue to play their role as apex omnivores. By managing bear populations responsibly, we can ensure they continue to thrive in Oregon’s diverse ecosystems.
Oregon Bear Foundation Projects
Our Oregon Chapter is already taking steps to make a meaningful impact. Our first project focuses on raising awareness about bear skull check-in requirements.
Oregon regulations mandate that successful bear hunters must check in the skulls of harvested bears to provide essential biological data. This requirement helps wildlife managers gather critical information, such as age and health of the bears, which is vital for accurate population assessments and informed decision-making in bear conservation. However, participation in these check-ins is not yet at 100%, according to the ODFW. This gap creates challenges for accurate population assessments. We aim to address this through educational campaigns, outreach efforts, and collaboration with local communities to improve compliance and streamline the check-in process.
Looking ahead, we envision larger-scale projects such as collaring studies and comprehensive population research across Oregon’s black bear habitats. By deploying GPS tracking collars, we can gather precise data on bear movements, seasonal migrations, and interactions with human-dominated landscapes. These efforts will help identify critical habitat areas and corridors essential for maintaining genetic diversity and reducing human-wildlife conflicts. Additionally, population health monitoring will allow us to detect trends in reproduction, mortality rates, and disease prevalence. Such data will directly inform management policies, ensuring that the Oregon black bear population continues to thrive. These initiatives will provide deeper insights into bear behavior and habitat usage, equipping us with the knowledge needed to conserve these remarkable animals.
How to Join
If you’re passionate about bear conservation, we invite you to become part of the American Bear Foundation. Joining is simple and comes with the opportunity to contribute to impactful projects both locally and nationally. Visit the American Bear Foundation website to become a member. You will automatically be assigned to your local chapter based on your address.
For those specifically interested in supporting the Oregon Chapter, you can donate directly to our initiatives at this link. Your contributions will go towards vital conservation projects, education efforts, and advancing our mission of ethical wildlife management.
Joining the American Bear Foundation is more than a role for me; it’s a commitment to a cause I deeply care about. Together with my fellow board members, I am eager to support bear conservation in Oregon through thoughtful management, education, and research. With your help, we can make a difference in ensuring a sustainable future for Oregon’s black bear population.
Let’s work together to protect these magnificent animals and the habitats they call home. Join us today and be part of the change.
