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Assessing the Effects of Traffic (and No Traffic) on the Behavior and Viewability of Grizzly Bears (2023-2026)
Denali National Park and Preserve » Assessing the Effects of Traffic (and No Traffic) on the Behavior and Viewability of Grizzly Bears (2023-2026) » Document List
The current closure of the western half of the Denali Park Road at Mile 43, due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide, presents a unique opportunity to study these effects on wildlife. This before-after-control-impact (BACI) study will assess changes in bear movement and habitat use along a 30-mile segment of the Denali Park Road. The non-traffic control period in 2023-24 will be compared to the impact period when high traffic levels resume in 2025, after completion of the Polychrome Area Project (Pretty Rocks Landslide). Bear behavior will also be assessed along a non-impacted segment of the park road (where traffic continued throughout all years), east of the closure as a control site. For more information on this project, visit the webpage: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/denali-bear-traffic-study.htm