Hair Snare DNA Study

The AWCC has supported biologists collecting data that has helped provide valuable biological information about brown bears in Alaska.

Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game set about 100 hair snares for bears in Southcentral Alaska’s Game Management Unit 13 one summer. These “hair traps” use strands of barbed wire to snag tufts of fur and don’t capture or restrain the bears. DNA in the hair follicle provides valuable biological information about the bears. The biologist with the project fine-tuned the trap design over the spring with a couple prototypes at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Learn more about this project with this article by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Hair Snares “Trap” Grizzly Bears

AWCC Brown Bears Dumpster Testing

Testing these bear resistant dumpsters with the resident brown bears aligns with all four pillars of AWCC’s mission. The project promotes the conservation of Kodiak brown bears, aids Alaskan high school students and creates an educational opportunity for visitors, provides research results that will inform on improvements to the dumpster design, and contributes to our quality animal care practices through enrichment. It’s an honor to support youth addressing a need in their city and making lasting impacts on the safety of humans and wildlife in their community.

Amy

Education Program Coordinator, AWCC

Dumpster Retrofitting Project

by Nathan Svoboda, PhD. Area Wildlife Biologist, Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Anthropogenic food waste containers and disposal sites are frequently at the forefront of human-wildlife interactions and typically result in conflicts. Tools used to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts associated with anthropogenic foods commonly target wildlife through deterrence, removal, or aversive condition; however, these methods typically have limited or short-term efficacy. Similarly, and though important, public education toward mitigating human-wildlife conflicts through changing human behaviors more often than not has had only limited efficacy. The single approach that has consistently resulted in long-term and substantial reductions of human-wildlife conflicts surrounding anthropogenic foods has been wildlife exclusion.

Among types of human-wildlife conflicts, those involving large carnivores are generally most serious, in part because of risks to human health and safety. Brown bears are a large carnivore species frequently involved in serious conflicts with humans. On Kodiak Island, Alaska, human-brown bear encounters are prevalent due to the high density of bears on the island and substantial human residency, outdoor activities, and tourism in important bear habitat. Conflicts are usually associated with bears seeking anthropogenic foods. Based on Alaska Department of Fish and Game records, during 2016–2021 there were 396 reported human-brown bear conflicts on Kodiak Island (mean = 66/year). Most of these conflicts included brown bears obtaining anthropogenic foods. In addition, 18 bears were killed in defense of life or property during this same period, all or in part a consequence of obtaining anthropogenic food. To further demonstrate the current urgency and importance of this situation on Kodiak Island, following is an excerpt from an internal Alaska Department of Fish and Game report in 2022 regarding human-brown bear conflicts on Kodiak Island:

“2022 Bear Observations
Trash continues to be a significant source of bear-human encounters. Of the 61 reports received by various agencies throughout the Kodiak road system as of Sept 1, 2022, over half of the reports were of bears eating unnatural foods or attempting to access unnatural foods. Efforts to increase the number and effectiveness of bear resistant containers in use throughout the Kodiak road system should continue.

In late March and early April of 2022 reports of bears regularly breaking into dumpsters and roll carts were common. As time progressed, bears were reported breaking into or attempting to break into homes and vehicles. The public safety risk presented by these incidences prompted the department and the AWT [Alaska Wildlife Troopers] to take lethal action resulting in two agency removals.”

Brown bears are an iconic species of immense cultural, recreational, and economic value to the residents of Kodiak Island. Local residents consequently have great pride in the brown bears of Kodiak and a strong desire to coexist with them. Facilitating human-brown bear coexistence needs to include a reduction in frequency of conflicts, number of bears killed as management removals or in defense of life or property, and improved human health and safety. As the primary mechanism of human-brown bear conflicts is bears obtaining anthropogenic food, excluding bears from this resource appears most efficacious to mitigate conflicts. Kodiak Island has about 250 dumpsters located throughout the island along the road system, however, only about 12–13% are bear resistant. Previous efforts in 2015–2016 resulted in modifying 10 dumpsters, bringing the number of bear resistant dumpsters to around 30. Efforts to continue this program are underway and will continue into the foreseeable future.

Thank You to our Generous Project Supporters:
Kodiak Island High School, specifically the welding and art students
Kodiak Island Borough School District
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Kodiak Brown Bear Trust
Highmark Marine Fabrication
Kodiak Island Borough
Alaska Waste

Hair Snares “Trap” Grizzly Bears
Hair Snares “Trap” Grizzly Bears
Hair Snares “Trap” Grizzly Bears
Hair Snares “Trap” Grizzly Bears
Hair Snares “Trap” Grizzly Bears
Report Observations

Be a part of the research effort.

AWCC is an eBird Hotspot!

eBird is an online database of bird observations providing scientists, researchers and amateur naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution and abundance. Guests and staff report sightings of birds visiting AWCC and you can too!  Check out what birds have been seen at AWCC and report your sightings here.

Report your observations from the AWCC.

iNaturalist is a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. Data from this program is incorporated into existing databases and shared with researchers and biologists to inform ongoing research, conservation, and management efforts. AWCC staff and guests report observations and so can you!  Check out what has recently been observed at AWCC and report your findings here.

Discover the WILD of Alaska and come meet the locals! Walk on the Wild Side Tours are available year-round and include an animal encounter. Summer Moose Encounters (feed a moose!) & Summer Bear Encounters (feed a brown bear!) are available. Book early to ensure your spot!