How are researchers documenting the lives of Arctic grizzly bears?

Researchers are using collar cameras fitted to 12 remote grizzly bears on Alaska's North Slope to record their daily activities and survival behaviors.

What do the collar cameras show about the bears' diet?

The cameras reveal that these bears forage on caribou carcasses, musk oxen, various berries like blueberries, and seek fish, with a short season to build fat reserves.

Why is this research important for the grizzly bears on the North Slope?

The study helps understand their food acquisition, identify denning sites, and assess potential impacts from industrial development, aiding in their conservation.

Home / Environment / Grizzly Cameras Reveal Arctic Survival Secrets

Grizzly Cameras Reveal Arctic Survival Secrets

1 Feb

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Summary

Collar cameras on remote Arctic grizzlies offer a unique view of survival.
Bears forage on caribou, musk oxen, berries, and seek fish.
Research aims to understand food acquisition and denning sites for conservation.

Grizzly Cameras Reveal Arctic Survival Secrets

A groundbreaking research project is capturing the daily lives of one of the world's most remote grizzly bear populations on Alaska's North Slope. Twelve of the approximately 200 grizzlies roaming near the Arctic Ocean are wearing collar cameras, offering an unprecedented view of their survival tactics in the frigid, treeless terrain.

These videos reveal bears engaging in various activities, from playing and fighting to foraging for food. Their diet consists of caribou carcasses, musk oxen, berries like blueberries and soapberries, and fish. Unlike salmon-eating bears, these Arctic grizzlies are smaller, weighing up to 350 pounds, and have a limited eight-month window to build fat reserves for hibernation.

The research, a collaboration between Washington State University and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, aims to understand the bears' food acquisition methods and identify critical denning areas. This information is vital for conservation efforts and for managing potential impacts from oil-field development, as companies must avoid denning sites when constructing winter roads.