TY - RPRT
TI - Deerfield Wind Black Bear Study Update: August, 2015 Interim Report
AU - Comeau, J
AU - Hammond, F
AB - This is an interim report of the Deerfield Wind Bear Study. The research is the result of a condition that the VT Public Service Board imposed on Iberdrola, Inc as part of their final permit for the construction and operation of the Deerfield Wind Energy Project (DWEP) in Searsburg and Readsboro Vermont. The objective of the study is to evaluate potential impacts of the DWEP on the area’s black bear population, specifically changes in beechnut foraging behaviors. Black bear movement, habitat use, and behavior data are to be collected during pre-construction, construction, and post construction phases of the DWEP. Initially, field work for the study was scheduled to end in 2017, but due to an appeal of the USFS Environmental Impact Statement construction has been delayed by at least four years. Currently the study is still within the preconstruction phase. The study is nearing the completion of its fifth year (fall 2011 – fall 2015) collecting data from GPS collared bears. To date 26 bears have been collared (18 males, 8 females) and over 35,000 GPS locations of study animal movements collected. The data collected has provided insight into important food sources and availability, habitat features, movement corridors, and feeding behavior.
DA - 2015/08//
PY - 2015
SP - 16
PB - Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
UR - https://vtfishandwildlife.com/conserve/deerfield-wind-bear-study
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Land-Based Wind
KW - Terrestrial Mammals
ER -