BRAD CROMPTON, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES:
We’re following radio-collared bears—female bears—to monitor production and survival of bear cubs.


ON-SCREEN TEXT: Each winter, Utah scientists use signals from collared bears to find the dens where they and their cubs are hibernating. In 2015 Utah's weather was so warm that the mothers had already left their dens.
 

BRAD CROMPTON, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES:
We’ve had some very warm and dry conditions throughout southeastern Utah this winter.  I think it has prompted bears to leave the dens and bit early. Typically they don’t leave their dens till April.
 

WALT MALDONADO, DEDICATED HUNTER PROGRAM & WALK-IN ACCESS COORDINATOR, UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES:
This is the earliest I’ve ever seen them on the move.

It’s been 55 degrees.  It’s like Spring.  It was just like Spring.

I’m nervous because their coming out too see [and] there’s nothing to eat. There’s not much water and I’m nervous about that.
 

BRAD CROMPTON, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES:
We learn a lot about bears based on what we see in these bear dens. If bears are having cubs, then if those cubs survive their first year and are in the den again as yearlings, it tells us a lot about the growth rate of the population. 

It also helps us kind of gear up for potential bear/human conflicts. On years where we are going to have a whole lot of yearlings coming out of the dens, yearlings tend to get in trouble first cause it is the first time by themselves.  And we can kind of predict those years coming.
 

WALT MALDONADO, DEDICATED HUNTER PROGRAM & WALK-IN ACCESS COORDINATOR, UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES:
I know we have a quote “population problem” but this might wreak havoc on our population. I think it is going to cause conflict too.  I think they are going to be scavenging for whatever they can find to eat. And so I’m nervous.  This is just totally unusual and hate to see it come to this on because they are going to struggle.  And I’m not sure how much of the young ones can make it when there’s nothing for them to eat or not much water to drink.