The Allegany range harvest of 30 is only slightly below the annual average of 32 for the previous 10 years. The Catskill range take of 149 is above the previous 10-year average of 118. DEC biologists use a variety of indices to measure bear populations. In the southern zone, biologists collect age and sex information from each harvested bear. This information is used to help understand whether the bear population is increasing or decreasing and if it is expanding into previously unoccupied habitat.
Biologists also take note of the number of nuisance bear complaints they receive.
Bear- human interactions are often caused by drought conditions which reduce availability of bears' natural foods and cause them to seek alternate food sources. Bears will often turn to agricultural crops, improperly stored garbage, birdfeeders, or pet food when their natural foods are scarce. A large number of nuisance calls in 1997 lead biologists to believe that bear populations are on the rise, especially in southern New York. Because most bears killed by hunters in New York are taken incidental to deer hunting, deer hunter participation can have a tremendous effect on the number of bears taken. Adverse weather conditions can reduce hunter density and cause a lower bear take than would occur under ideal hunting conditions.