Radio Frequency Identification Tags for Grizzly and Polar Bear Research, Technical Summary

摘要

Grizzly and polar bears are important species for subsistence communities along the Arctic coast and they are important components of arctic terrestrial, nearshore and, in the case of polar bears, arctic marine ecosystems. Polar bears were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2008 due to the anticipation that the reduction in their sea ice habitat will reduce polar bear populations. Information on polar bear movements and habitat use will be increasingly important as the sea ice recedes. Both species use the North Slope oilfield region and will be affected, directly or indirectly, by future oil and gas development in terrestrial, nearshore, and offshore areas. Much of our current knowledge about bear populations, habitat use, movements, and interactions with oil and gas activities on the North Slope has been the result of repeated observations of radio-collared or satellite-tagged individuals. Unfortunately, adult male bears have a low retention rate for collars because the circumference of their neck is larger than that of their head. Therefore our knowledge regarding the ecology of bears and interactions between bears and oil development is primarily based on satellite tracks and relocations of female and subadult bears. A new non-collar method is needed to track bears.