and Other Reasons Grizzlies Suffer Human-Caused Mortalities

Image Copyrighted © Charles Erick

September 8, 2000

I have seen many disgusting examples of people not taking care of their garbage. Highways are littered
with tons of trash of every sort. People dump garbage, furniture, and appliances illegally for someone
else to clean up.  One of the most blatant examples of mismanagement of garbage is depicted in the
photograph above.

The photos above and the one below were taken at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in August 2000.    If the oil industry can't even manage their garbage at a place like Prudhoe Bay, can we trust them to be environmentally responsible should they ever get their drill rigs into a sanctuary like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? I think not.

This is so ridiculous when we think about how many millions of dollars worth of oil pass through the
trans-Alaska Pipeline every day. According to the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company web site, "The
trans-Alaska pipeline moves oil at rates approaching 88,000 barrels an hour on its 800 mile journey to the
Port of Valdez in Prince William Sound." A barrel of crude oil is worth about $30. At that rate of
movement of oil through the pipeline, several millions of dollars worth of oil would pass through in a 24-hour period.

Prudhoe Bay should have the most state of the art bearproof garbage dumpsters money can buy and
ensure garbage is properly managed to prevent bears from getting into it.

I have begun some research (and will be doing more) to find out who to contact to address and correct
this problem. Will post an update soon.

September 12, 2000 (Update)

After learning about the problem at Prudhoe bay last Friday, I have made lots of phone calls and sent a lot
of email messages. There was no news coming in over the weekend. Yesterday, Monday, I was hopeful
that I would begin to get some answers, or at least find a contact. It didn't happen. Early this morning I
sent 6 or 7 email messages to Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation offices. Before noon, I had 5 email replies and one phone message. I then
spent time talking with a biologist from Fish and Game on the phone (will attach his message below). I
really appreciate the response from the state of Alaska.

Here is the message I received from Dick Shideler-- Habitat Division, Alaska Dept. Fish & Game

James,

The short answer is that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, in a recent upgrade of
its solid waste regulations, has the authority to require animal-proof dumpsters. As a result of this
regulation and DEC's willingness to enforce it, the North Slope Borough (the local agency responsible
for solid waste disposal in the oilfields) outfitted the oilfield with bear-proof dumpsters manufactured
by the Haul-All Corporation, for disposal of putrescible waste. The open, 25 cubic yard dumpsters
continue to be used for scrap metal and other non-putrescible waste, but all garbage goes into the
Haul-Alls or in a few cases, larger bins that have been fitted with user-manufactured bear-proof lids.
This is the first full summer of deployment and already we are seeing positive changes in bear use.
Grizzly bear use of the large industrial dumpsters has been common, and I have been in charge of a
grizzly project at Prudhoe that has dealt directly with that issue. The Department of Fish & Game has
had for some time regulations prohibiting the feeding of game animals, especially bears."

I'd be happy to discuss this with you more at length if you wish.

Dick Shideler

Habitat Division
Alaska Dept. Fish & Game
1300 College Road
Fairbanks, AK 99701

I did call Dick and learned more about the issues of garbage management and bear (people) management
at Prudhoe Bay, including at the local landfill. Prudhoe Bay still has its share of problems with these
issues. From what I learned today, the situation seems to be improving--better dumpsters and continuing
efforts to change people behavior. Hopefully, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation will
be able to work with the North Slope Borough, the oil industry and, the conservation community to keep
grizzly bears out of garbage. I could be wrong, but I have a feeling Dick Shideler will do all he can to
make that happen.

I do understand that it takes time to change behavior, of both bears and people. It's a shame that
grizzlies were ever attracted to garbage at Prudhoe Bay. Now, it appears efforts are underway to
change that. The fact of the matter is, you can give people the best bear proof garbage dumpsters
money can buy and still have problems if the garbage does not all get inside. Regulators can't keep watch
on garbage disposal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is ultimately up to the people who generate the
garbage to do the right thing.

I will continue to learn more about the issues at Prudhoe Bay through contacts with conservation groups,
industry, and government--may even try to visit the Arctic in the near future to see for myself.

Additional information will be added as it becomes available.

What is the future for a cub raised on garbage?
(See update at top of page. Questioned answered!)

 Image Copyrighted © Charles Erick

  The next photo was provided courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The photo is from Angoon, in Southeast Alaska.                        

This is not the image we want for the Great Bears of Alaska

Alaska Grizzly in Garbage Dump

I prefer this image.

Here are addresses for some of the people I contacted in 2001 regarding grizzly bears in garbage at Prudhoe Bay. I sent letters to BP, Phillips, and Governor Knowles. The letter to BP is posted below. I have only received a reply from BP. Hope this helps. Thanks for your concern. I sent many email messages to Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The Alaska state agencies were very cooperative and helpful in answering my questions.

Note: Glenn Miller was very helpful. He sent me a copy of a video called Bears In Danger and is seeking solutions to managing garbage in SE Alaska, in particular, so it will not be available to bears.

Dick was also very helpful. He may know more about the grizzly bears at Prudhoe Bay than anyone else.

Although I did not contact him, Ken Taylor is the Director of the Habitat and Restoration Division. Here is his address in Juneau:

 Protect Grizzly Bear Habitat

September 18, 2000

Neil McCleary
BP Alaska, Inc.
P.O. Box 196612
Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6612

Dear Mr. McCleary:

I am writing to you because I believe BP is one of the most influential companies involved in oil exploration and development on the North Slope of Alaska.  I am writing to ask your help to prevent grizzly bears from continuing to feed on garbage generated at Prudhoe Bay. 

Recently, copies of several photographs of a mother grizzly bear on top of a garbage dumpster at Prudhoe Bay were sent to me.     Another photo depicts the mother grizzly and one of her cubs walking alongside a building.  The photos were taken at Prudhoe Bay in late August of this year.  This situation is potentially dangerous for humans.  It may also lead to grizzly bears being destroyed because of their attraction to garbage. 

 The following is an excerpt from the BP Alaska web site section on Environment (http://www.bp.com/alaska/index_env.htm):

The grizzly or brown bear, aklak to the Iñupiat, occurs in low numbers across the Arctic coastal plain. The bears found in the north are smaller and more widely scattered than to the south due to scarcer food resources (on Alaska's North Slope there are no salmon runs to fatten up the bears). Grizzlies on the North Slope also have a very short season, they may begin hibernation in October and not emerge until April or May.

It is estimated that fewer than 30 grizzly bears live in the area between the Colville and Shaviovik rivers. Those that do range here may travel over 2,500 square kilometres. While North Slope grizzlies are largely vegetarian, they will dig up ground squirrels, feed on birds nests (especially in snow goose or brant colonies), and will even prey on fox kits. Only rarely will a bear kill and eat a caribou.

Neil McCleary
Page 2

There is no mention of the garbage produced by the oil industry at Prudhoe Bay being a food source for North Slope grizzlies.  Yet, for some grizzlies that is the case.  I hope with your help that will soon change. 

I do not mean to imply that BP is directly responsible for the problem.  It is my guess that BP and other major companies involved in oil exploration and development at Prudhoe Bay are already doing more than their share to keep grizzly bears out of garbage and would prefer to see North Slope operations have as few negative impacts on grizzly bears and other wildlife as possible. 

From correspondence with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and others I have learned that many new “bear-proof” dumpsters have recently been put into service at Prudhoe Bay.  There seems to be some optimism that the situation of grizzly bears being attracted to garbage is gradually improving.  That is certainly encouraging.  From what I have been told, the problem may not be so much related to the lack of “bear-proof” dumpsters as it is to garbage not always getting disposed in them.  It appears food waste and other attractants may be thrown into open dumpsters meant for non-putrescible waste.

A concerted effort is needed by all to ensure that grizzlies will soon learn no free meals are available from the oil industry at Prudhoe Bay—not from dumpsters and not from the local landfill.  Such an effort will require an educational program that targets every worker and strict enforcement of company policies and government regulations.   

My interest in these matters is personal.  I do not represent or speak for any group.  Professionally, I am employed as a hydrogeologist in the solid waste program of a state agency.  Therefore, I am familiar with the problems associated with ensuring waste is properly managed.  My first job out of college was working as a mud logger in the Williston basin of eastern Montana and western North Dakota so I have experience with the oil industry in a remote location.   

I publish a grizzly bear web site that focuses primarily on grizzly bear recovery issues in the lower forty-eight states.  It is called The American Grizzly Bear (http://www.wildraven.net/AmericanGrizzly/index.htm).  The two photos enclosed with this letter have been posted on the main page of the web site, along with comments about the situation at Prudhoe Bay.     Here is an excerpt

I have seen many disgusting examples of people not taking care of their garbage.  Highways are littered with tons of trash of every sort.  People dump garbage, furniture, and appliances illegally for someone else to clean up.  One of the most blatant examples of mismanagement of garbage is depicted in the photograph below.

These pictures were taken at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in August 2000.  If the oil industry can't even manage their garbage at a place like Prudhoe Bay, can we trust them to be

Neil McCleary
Page 3

environmentally responsible should they ever get their drill rigs into a sanctuary like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?  I think not.

If BP Alaska would like to offer comments to be included in the discussion of this issue, they would be welcome.  I would also welcome an opportunity to travel to Prudhoe Bay to see the area first hand, see the oil industry operation, and discuss the bear-human relationships with those involved.  Would BP be willing to allow me to visit Prudhoe Bay as their guest?  

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the status of the grizzly bear issues at Prudhoe Bay, and ideas about how improvements can be made.     Here is another excerpt from my web site:

I do understand that it takes time to change behavior, of both bears and people.   It's a shame that grizzlies were ever attracted to garbage at Prudhoe Bay.   Now, it appears efforts are underway to change that.  The fact of the matter is, you can give people the best bear proof garbage dumpsters money can buy and still have problems if the garbage does not all get inside.  Regulators can't keep watch on garbage disposal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It is ultimately up to the people who generate the garbage to do the right thing.  

Sincerely,



James Musgrove

Enclosure

Cc:  Governor Tony Knowles 

Protecting Grizzlies in Two Languages: This garbage bin is located at the Dolly Varden picnic area in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia. Good quality bear-resistant garbage bins are located every few miles along Highway 93 through the park and in other parts of eastern B.C., sometimes one on each side of the highway. The highway was spotless. If we care, it's not that difficult to take care of our garbage.

Go to: Garbage for Grizzlies in the Lower Forty-eight