USA - Developing alternative non-lethal tools for predator management.

We will build a network between American and Norwegian large predator researchers in two phases. First, Norwegian bear researcher, Martin Smith, will visit the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC). He will meet the staff and gain first hand knowledge of facilities and working procedures. The NWRC includes a central research facility and 9 field stations, and is responsible for resolving all problems caused by the interaction of wild animals and society (see attachment). The primary contact at NWRC is Dr. Stewart Breck, who studies wolves and bears, specifically bear-human conflicts. He has studied in Yosemite National Park - food-conditioned bears; in Minnesota - developing new tools; and in Colorado - ecology of urban bears, testing management tools, and human dimensions. All of these are similar to our research and management needs in Norway. Smith will spend 10 days in Colorado getting to know the Center staff and to fully understand the research capabilities of the NWRC. Smith will also have the o pportunity to visit Breck's project site in Colorado, meet with external researchers, and also visit one of the Center's field stations in Logan, Utah. Second, Dr. Breck will visit Norway, mainly Svanhovd Environmental Center (see attachment) for 14 days to learn about Norwegian conditions. We will travel to several areas to provide Breck with a complete understanding of Norwegian wildlife management and conflicts. We will also meet many people from other wildlife and livestock interest organizations, man agers, and researchers during our travels. Cooperation with the NWRC gives us access to an internationally renowned agency and scientific staff with expertise across a broad spectrum of wildlife-human conflicts, most applicable to Norway as well. We also get partners interested in doing quality research and producing quality scientific publications, while still solving concrete, practical problems for the general public, wildlife managers and researchers