Georgia Bear Sightings

This Application and StoryMap was developed as a Johns Hopkins University student project for Web GIS (AS.430.600.83.FA23).

Cheyenne Feltman

01 / 06

Introduction:

Deer, squirrels, and bears oh my!

Preceding the eighteenth century, bear populations in Georgia were extensive. Nevertheless, habitat degradation, unrestricted hunting, and the overall influence of human activities on habitat quality account for the substantial decline in population. The state's bear population has rebounded to its current magnitude of around 5,100 as a result of effective wildlife management strategies (Georgia Black Bear Information 2013).

Black bears inhabit three distinct regions in Georgia on average, although they may venture into more extensive territories in pursuit of sustenance. They inhabit the Okefenokee Swamp in the southeast, the Ocmulgee River drainage system in the central portion of the state, and the North Georgia Mountains. Young male bears frequently venture into expansive territories until they have the ability to establish their own domain (Georgia Black Bear Information 2013).

Glorious Purpose:

Have you ever been curious about the fauna that inhabits your area? I possess a particular affinity in regard to bears. Although I have observed deer, foxes, rodents, and chipmunks, I have never encountered bears, and I prefer to maintain a safe distance. To do so, I require information regarding their location; this application will assist in that regard.

Bear observation and analysis constitute the primary aim of the Bears Sightings in Georgia application. By soliciting community-direct feedback, this platform aims to serve as a valuable resource for raising awareness.

Data Sources:

I commenced the process by making a decision regarding the subject matter of my endeavor. Wildlife conservation is one of my areas of interest, so I chose a topic that could be implemented in this field. I then proceed with my investigation.

Prior to anything else, I chose my study area and settled on Georgia, where I reside. I then visited census.gov in order to obtain the state and county boundaries.

Then, I pondered which animal to utilize. Due to indecision, I searched Google for "top wildlife in Georgia" and discovered bears. It was as if I had never seen bears in Georgia; their location and the number of sightings are unknown to me. I was now able to complete an analysis and select a topic for my final project.

The public bear observation GIS data layer was accessible via the wildlife website of the Georgia DNR (as shown on the right).

The lake layer was acquired from the Environmental Protection Division's website.

Data Collection and Analysis:

I edited the data using both ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS online prior to developing the application.

The initial data layer appended was the Georgia state boundary. Subsequently, the public bear sightings layer of data was integrated. Upon importing the Public Bear Sightings data into ArcGIS online, I noticed that the data was organized by county. After reaching the conclusion that county boundaries were crucial, I proceed to the census website once more in pursuit of obtaining the necessary information.

The county information obtained from the census website covers the entire United States. In order to obtain only the counties in Georgia, I imported the layer into ArcGIS Pro and generated a feature layer using the project tool.

Once all the data was added I start playing with several geoprocessing tools on ArcGIS online before settling on the find hotspots tool. After discovering the hotspots, I wondered why there were so many bears in that area and thought maybe it's near a lake for a water source, so I added a lake layer and found a large lake confirming my thoughts.

Map after completing my analysis on the right.

Web App and Presentation:

Reference and Source Links:

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. (2013). Georgia Black Bear Information. Georgia Wildlife. https://georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/wrd/pdf/research/Bear_Press_Folder_June_2013.pdf