Alaska

The majority of GMUs were estimated to have stable populations. Declining populations were reported from GMU 13, GMU 20A, GMU 20, GMU 20B, GMU 20C, GMU 25C, and GMU 22C. Possibly declining populations were reported from Chichagof Island (GMU 4), Yakutat (GMU 5A), Prince William Sound (GMU 6D), GMU 16A, and GMU 22B.

The Kodiak Archipelago

Both Kodiak and Afognak Islands support large brown bear populations and are near enough together that there is a frequent exchange of individuals between them. Raspberry Island, Shuyak Island, and other islands in the Archipelago also support bears.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates a total of 2,732 brown bears (1,968 to 3,538) in 13,191 km2 (ADFG 1993). The population density is thus estimated at about 208 bears per 1000 square kilometers. These bears are morphologically distinct enough to be considered the only current subspecies, Ursus arctos middendorffi , the largest of the North American brown bears.

Unimak Island, adjacent to the Alaska Peninsula in the Aleutian chain, is estimated to support 250 (200 to 300) brown bears (ADFG 1993). This population is almost certainly maintained by immigration from the Alaskan Peninsula which is less than 3 km distant. Resident populations are not found on the other Aleutian Islands or on Nunivak, a large island further north.

Prince William Sound: Montague and Hinchinbrook Islands

The population of GMU 6D which includes PWS and the surrounding mainland may be declining (ADFG 1993). The larger islands in Prince William Sound (PWS) support brown bear populations. Montague and Hinchinbrook Islands have the largest island populations, estimated at 55 to 139 for Hinchinbrook and 23 to 58 for Montague. Hawkins island near Cordova has about 10 to 19 . There are also about 11 to 22 brown bears on the Kenai Peninsula mainland adjoining western Prince William Sound (Nowlin 1993).

The smaller islands of western Prince William Sound are not large enough to support resident brown bear populations, but bears can and do swim between these islands (Miller and Ballard 1982).

Kayak Island, less than 3 km off Cape Suckling in the Gulf of Alaska, is estimated to have 3 to 10 brown bears (ADFG 1993).

The Kenai Peninsula

see map above

The Kenai peninsula in south central Alaska is connected by land to the rest of Alaska by a narrow corridor that is heavily glaciated. Migration of bears through this corridor should be greatly restricted so the Kenai is essentially an island population. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates the population size to be around 300 bears.

Of these about 181 (90 to 270) are found in the western portion of the peninsula and 96 (50 to 150) on the eastern edge of the peninsula bordering the Gulf of Alaska and further north (ADFG 1993). An additional 11 to 22 brown bears are found on the mainland bordering Prince William Sound (Nowlin 1993).

The ABC Islands

The ABC islands: Admiralty, Baranof, and Chicagof, support large brown bear populations. Admiralty has an area of about 4,306 square kilometers and an estimated 1,660 brown bears (1,494 to 1,824); a density of 386 bears per 1000 km2.

Baranof covers about 4,159 square kilometers and has about 816 brown bears (719 to 913); a density of 196 bears per 1000 km2.

Chicagof has an area of 5445 square kilometers and an estimated 1625 brown bears (1501 to 1772); a density of 298 bears per 1000 km2.

Kruzof Island has an area of 518 square kilometers and supports an estimated 127 brown bears (121 to 133); a density of 245 bears per 1000 km2 [ADFG 1993].

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