Does tracking harm the bears?Updated 6 months ago

Understandably, there are concerns about the impacts of collaring and human interference on wildlife. Polar bear researchers care deeply about the health of their study animals and regularly assess the impacts of different types of research and adjust as needed.

The most recent study on the long-term impacts of collars on polar bears evaluated the extent to which capture, collaring, and handling may influence polar bear activity, body mass, body condition, reproduction, and survival. Polar bears had a reduction in movements for several days after capture, but this was short-term. There were no long-term effects found on body condition, reproduction, or cub survival. This study showed capture and collaring are not contributing to observed changes in body condition, reproduction or survival seen in the polar bear population.

However, researchers continue to refine methods, make trackers smaller, and find the least invasive ways to study polar bear populations to help inform the best ways we can protect them.

Learn more about why researchers track polar bear, from our partners at Polar Bears International.