Alaska Polar Bear Maternal Den Habitat

This dataset depicts polar bear maternal den habitat on the coastal plain of northern Alaska between the Colville River and the Alaska/Canada border. Den habitat is defined as abrupt landscape features that will hold snow banks of at least 3 feet in depth. Previous studies by Durner and others (2001) determined that a majority of maternal dens located using radiotelemetry were located in coastal and river banks. High-resolution aerial photographs were then used to identify and map bank habitats. This dataset can be used to help avoid disruption of maternal dens, and potential for reproductive failure, by winter petroleum exploration activities. Because some denning activities occur in areas of active petroleum exploration, knowledge of den habitat is important for reducing disturbance to polar bears. The methods used to develop this dataset are described in more detail in: Durner, G.M., S.C. Amstrup, and K.J. Ambrosius. 2001. Remote identification of polar bear maternal den habitat in northern Alaska. Arctic 54(2): 115-121. (http://www.aina.ucalgary.ca/scripts/minisa.dll/144/proe/proarc/se+arctic,+v.+54,+no.++2,+June+2001,*?COMMANDSEARCH)