Drones and Grizzlys: Glacier National Park

April 2024

Prepared By:
Cole Quirk, Grant Ivesdal, and Payton Sick
Emails:
cole.quirk@und.edu
grant.ivesdal@und.edu
payton.sick@und.edu

COVER LETTER
UND Drone Team
293 Centennial Drive
Grand Forks, ND 58202

April 7, 2024

Dave Roemer, Superintendant

Glacier National Park
PO Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936

Dear Dave Roemer,

We wanted to reach out to you about the grizzly bear situation at Glacier National Park. We
believe that drones could be the solution to many issues that the bears are experiencing. Droning
is the future of tracking animals. Human and bear interactiopn is a big concern and we think that
with the ability of tracking the bears with bears this could help limit these interactions. Here are
some goals for the project.

• Limit bear and human interactions

• Studying bears behaviors and habits
• Overall better experience for guests
To achive this project we would be asking for $2,458,250 over the next 5 years. This
money would pay for the drones, drone operating, data analysis, and vehicles. This money would
help establish a base drone project that would help benefit the park.
We would love for you to look over our prject and consider trying it out. We want to help
the preservation of bears at Glacier National Park. Thank you for taking the time to read our
project. Here is our contact information if you want to discuss going through the project.
Email: UND. DroneTeam.ndus.edu
Phone: 701-000-0000
Sincerely,
UND Drone Team
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
 The main concern with grizzly bears in Glacier national park is their interaction with
humans. This is not just an issue at Glacier national park. Bears have become more comfortable
when approaching visitors. This is important to limit to ensure the safety of our guests. Once
these bears have multiple encounters with humans, they are then transferred to outside the park.
This problem affects both the bears and the guests.

Bears that are relocated become harder to track since they are far away from the park.
Most of these bears at one point had a high mortality rate. This is bad for the population of the
bears in the park. With this cycle of relocating bears, bears will continue seeing their population
numbers fall. It is important that we can track these relocated bears, so we can track their
behaviors and habits. Bears that have not been relocated are also affected by the ability to track
them. Being able to track bears in the park is important for keeping them safe and our guests.
Tracking the bears is important to keep them safe and not encourage them to become
comfortable with human interaction. This issue also affects our guests. As a national park the
focus is to maintain the safety of our guests so they can enjoy their stay at the park. With
tracking bears, it would be important for the safety of guests by making sure they are a safe
distance apart.

A solution to the problem of tracking bears would be drones. Drones would give the
researchers the ability to track these bears from a safe distance. The problem with tracking in
recent years was researchers had to get to high places just to get a radio signal of the bear. The
problem with this form of tracking is that it takes hours sometimes to reach these locations and
the other issue was money. Helicopters were a better way to get the radio signals than on foot.
But this is where it would get pricey for parks. Drones have Infared cameras and can easily track
the bears regardless of time of day. Drones would also help create new jobs in the park. The
biggest solution drones solve is the safety of the researchers. Drones help eliminate the traveling
researchers would have to do to be able to track the bears. Drones also can give constant tracking
compared to the radio signal method. The radio signal method cannot be used consistently,
which is why drones are superior to the radio signal method.
LITERATURE REVIEW
THE GRIZZLY BEAR
Before the 1800s, there were thought to be approximately 50,000 grizzly bears in what

soon became the continental US, with a population spreading through 18 different states. In the

early 1900s that population dropped to around 800 and after some revival efforts the grizzly bear

population is now at approximately 2,000 individuals in the lower 48 states, only 4 of which are

still home to grizzly bears, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 The current tactic for tracking and monitoring grizzly bear populations is accomplished

by radiotelemetry, a process that uses radio signals to locate and monitor animals that have been

marked. While effective, this process can be dangerous for both the bears and the researchers

because to mark an animal for radio monitoring the individual must be captured and fitted with a

transmitter. This requires researchers to travel through the wilderness and restrain a grizzly bear

while ensuring the safety of the research team and the captured bear.

The biggest threat to the grizzly bear populations is habitat loss due to human expansion

which leads to an increase in human-bear interactions, which often can result in vehicle

collisions, poaching, and conflict between animals and humans. According to the Vital Ground

Foundation, an organization focused on protection grizzly bear populations and habitats, in 2019

alone 69 deaths were recorded in the Yellowstone area 52 of which were directly caused by

humans.

The increase in human-bear interactions is mostly due to the bears gaining confidence

causing them to see camp sites and garbage cans as an easy food source. Once a bear shows

signs of being too comfortable around humans the bear must be relocated and very rarely does a

bear survive in its new location.

DRONES
With new technologies advancing rapidly, wildlife conservation efforts are beginning to

change. Recent studies and real-world applications are suggesting that AI might be the tool of the

future. The infinite capabilities of artificial intelligence paired with the accessibility and

efficiency of drones could completely revolutionize the way that humans go about wildlife

conservation.
Unmanned aerial vehicles used for wildlife conservation are created to track, observe, record,

and safeguard species and their environment. To collect essential data, these drones come

equipped with specialized payloads, such as cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence. Not

only that, but they are designed to maneuver through a variety of terrains, from cliffs and

canyons to forests and plains (JOUAV).

The process of AI in these drones is complex. In his study about AI counting manatees, Jim

Waymer says, “In computer science, ‘deep learning’ mimics how the human brain works, using

so-called ‘neural networks’ to strengthen certain patterns similar to how neurons form stronger

connections in the brain when humans learn. Think of it as a mental map that gains clarity as

details are added.” These machines could provide data that has never been seen before, maps of

territories and migration patterns and an animal count more accurate than humans could create.

Drones come in all shapes and sizes, but there are only a few that work best for wildlife

management. A fixed-wing VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) drone offers the best

capabilities. A drone like this provides advanced flight control, time, and range, operates silently,

and is resistant to challenging conditions. With AI in control of payloads like thermal cameras

and high-resolution mapping and surveying systems, monitoring species will be much easier.

THE CONNECTION

The growing number of bear-human contacts has taught bears that food is easily

accessible at campsites and in the form of trash. Usually, if this interaction keeps happening, the

bear is captured and relocated. After decades of this practice researchers were finding out that

these newly located bears often would unfortunately pass only after a few months of being

relocated. Relocated bears usually do not make it or will travel to other places looking for

essentials. “One female traversed some 1,000 miles across four states during a six-month journey
that ultimately brought her back to a den outside the park” (Steinbach). These relocated are used

to this constant human interaction and do not need to always hunt to get food. To combat this

bear and human interaction we can use drones to help track and identify bears' habits.

Before drone tracking wildlife researchers used radio-telemetry. Radio-telemetry was

successful in being a way to track animals. Ultimately researchers hated radio-telemetry, because

to pick up radio signals required researchers to get to high points to pick up signals from distant

tagged animals. Some of the only ways to get to that high point were helicopters. Drones on the

other hand are the perfect way to track bears. Drones are the future for animal tracking in

general. Being able to track bears on a consistent basis would vastly improve not only the bears'

health, but also improve the safety of people visiting the park. Drones would also allow

researchers to track more than one bear at a time. One of the downsides to radio-telemetry was

that only one animal can be tracked at a single time. With the new ability to be able to track more

bears at once researchers can save more time. With the use of drones' researchers would not have

to worry about traveling and risking their own safety just to get a radio signal from a bear.

PROJECT OVERVIEW
We will be beginning this project with two drones, however before ordering the drones a

building should be constructed in the park for each drone. The buildings will be where the drone

will be controlled, maintained and housed while not in use. These buildings will also be where

the data gathered from the program will be stored and analyzed. The drones we will be using

have a specific flight radius so to get the most out of the drones and to prevent overlap in data

these buildings should be twice that amount away from each other.
 The drones will be purchased and delivered from Skyfront a drone manufacturing

company based in Redwood City California, and it should take approximately 3 to 4 business

days to ship the drones to Glacier National Park. Once they arrive, the drones must be set up and

prepped for use in their respective buildings. From there a team will work in both buildings to

operate and maintain the drone, while analyzing the collected data.

The drones will be used to find grizzly bears within the radius and track the animals'

habits. They will also be used to track how far the grizzly bears travel in a day and alert the

operators when the bears get too close to areas of the park with more traffic. As well as mark

denning spots and places where the bears go to get food.

 PROJECT OUTCOMES
We are hoping that this project can be a pilot program opening the doors for the use of drones in

other protected wildlife refuges. For the bear program in Glacier National Park specifically we

are hoping to keep better track of the grizzly bear population within the park without the need for

the semi-invasive transmitters used today, making the process safer and less stressful for the

bears and the researchers.

With this program we would also gain a better understanding of the bears' migration patterns and

denning habits. With that information, we could alter the park in a way that could minimize bear

and human interactions. Preventing the bears from getting too comfortable around populated

areas. While also being better for the bears this would also be safer for the people traveling to the

park as it would decrease the number of grizzly bear attacks. As well as keeping an eye on the

local population in case of sudden decreases.

 BUDGET OVERVIEW

Item Cost Quantity Total

Drone $10,000 2x $20,000

Drone Operators $115,000 2x $230,000

Data Analysists $75,000 2x $150,000

Electricity $150 1x $150

Payloads $60,000 2x $120,000

Computer Setups $20,000 2x $40,000

Jeep Wrangler $20,000 2x $40,000

Gas $3,500 1x $3,500

Total $583,650

Over 5 Years $2,458,250

The budget we’re asking for breaks down as so. The drones, payloads, and Jeep

Wranglers are one-time costs, two of each, but we have budgeted for a second set of each in case

of the need for replacement. Drone operators and data analysts are paid by salary each year, so

they eat up most of the budget. These salaries are based on averages and can be subject to

change. The computer setup is complex, the computers themselves aren’t too expensive, but the

software that our analysts will use needs to be bought monthly. Electricity and gas are simple

budget concepts, for now they are estimations. All this totals to just below 2.5 million dollars

over a five-year period. For what our proposal is planning on doing, and how much money is

given to national parks by the government, we believe that this is a very reasonable request.
 TIMELINE

Time Operations

February yr. 1 Obtain a 5 Year Research and Collection Permit. Get in contact with

NOROCK at West Glacier Field Research Center. Purchase drones,

payloads, Jeeps, Computers, and employ workers. Set up operations.

Funding and permits are the only things that could slow this.

March yr. 1 Males emerge from hibernation. Begin first operations. They will be

slow to start but this will be best for the team to get settled.

April yr. 1 Females and cub emerge from hibernation. Continue operations at a

faster and more efficient pace. Operators will go out separately to

continuously map the entire park. Analysts will look at data and begin

mapping territories and tracking individual bears.

May-November Continue operating daily. Once territories are distinguished a new plan

yr. 1 will be made to spend more time in those areas. Migration patterns over

this period will need to be studied.

November- All bears will move into hibernation eventually. Operations can

December yr. 1 continue, but there will be less action. At any time, the weather could

prevent a day of operations, but this should not matter.

January-February A plan of action for the upcoming season will be created. All data

yr. 1 collected can be used to help conserve bears and keep the park safe.

March yr. 1 – yr. 5 Essentially repeat each step, making changes as the data requires.

Research and funding are the only possibilities for setbacks.

 CONCLUSION
Funding the application of AI advanced drones into grizzly bear conservation in Glacier National

Park is a long-term investment for the development of life of one of America’s greatest species.

Our project aims at using the newest technologies to make monitoring and studying grizzly bear

populations more efficient and safer for both companies. By supporting us and our cause, you are

allowing us to gather data more accurately and respond to conflicts within the park faster. This

will ultimately aid the long-term survival of the grizzly bear, the ecosystem, and the park itself.

Your grant will show the world what this technology is capable of and pave the way for more

conservation efforts in parks around the nation and the world. Thank you for considering our

proposal and supporting the future of grizzly bears in Glacier National Park.
 WORK CITED
Bears In Montana | Montana FWP. (2022). Retrieved April 4, 2024, from Mt.gov website:
https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/management

“CW-25E Long Endurance Electric Fixed-Wing VTOL Drone.” JOUAV, 14 Sept. 2023,
www.jouav.com/products/cw-25e.html.

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2021). Retrieved April 4,
2024, from FWS.gov website: https://www.fws.gov/species/grizzly-bear-ursus-arctos-
horribilis

Ground, V. (2020, May 13). Life on the Brink: The Unsettling Numbers About How Grizzly
Bears Die. Retrieved April 4, 2024, from Grizzly bear conservation and protection
website: https://www.vitalground.org/life-on-the-brink-how-grizzly-bears-die/

Radio Telemetry and Wildlife Tracking. (2014). Retrieved April 4, 2024, from The Yellowstone
Grizzly Project website: http://www.yellowstonegrizzlyproject.org/radio-telemetry-and-
wildlife-tracking.html

Waymer, Jim. "FAU Study Suggests using AI to Count Manatees: Could be More Accurate than
Tallies by Humans." Florida Today, Jan 15, 2024. ProQuest,
https://ezproxy.library.und.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/fau-study-
suggests-using-ai-count-manatees/docview/2914355079/se-2.

“Wildlife Drones: How to Use Drones for Wildlife Conservation?” JOUAV, 10 Nov. 2023,
www.jouav.com/blog/wildlife-
drone.html#:~:text=Wildlife%20drones%20are%20unmanned%20aerial,data%20while%2
0minimizing%20human%20disturbance.

Steinbach, Alison . “Bear Tracks.” National Park Foundation,

www.nationalparks.org/stories/bear-tracks. Accessed 13 Apr. 2024.

- Division of labor
o 1 Page - Cover Page: Payton
o 1-page, Single, extra space between paragraph - Cover Letter: Cole
o 1-page single - Summary: Cole
o 3-page double - Lit Review: ALL
▪ 1 – Bears Payton
▪ 2 – Drones Grant
▪ 3 – Connect Cole
o 1-3 double - Explanation: Payton
o 1/2-1 double - Outcomes: Payton
o 1-page double max - Budget: Grant
o 1/2-page double - Timeline: Grant
o 1- page double max Conclusion: Grant
o Works Cited: