Biological features and brawn bear numericalstrength on Southern Kuril Islands

Assessment of brown bear numbers and their age structure on Kunashir and Iturup islands is carried out. The estimation is based on visual registration of the animals and their traces (including measurement of the palmar corn) registered at salmon spawning sites. The evaluated data on brown bear numerical strength also include information collected from game managers and foresters of the region. The data on morphological characteristics, nutrition, and behavioral habits of the studied animals are also provided. In recent years, in spite of the growing interest toward brown bear hunting no serious changes in the species' numerical strength were registered. High number of registered aged species in the area speaks of the low hunting pressure on the studied population. Consistent numerical strength of the population is defined by the bamboo underbrush terrain impassible for hunters, stable food reserve, and moderate exploitation of the forest fund.