A Better Way to Track Polar Bears: Stick a Burr in Their Fur

Researchers at Polar Bears International , York University , and 3 metre are winners of the2023 Gizmodo Science Fairfor developing a burr - like tracking twist that sticks to polar bear ’ pelt .

The Question

Is there a better way to track polar bear in the Arctic , that avert the job with apprehension and ear tags ?

The Results

A squad of researchers from Polar Bears International , 3 M , York University , and participating zoos worked to make a diametrical bear trailing gimmick that could be safely attach to most polar bears . They think of how burrs stick to animal pelt , hanging on even as the animal travels big distances . They begin to explicate “ bur on fur , ” a tracker that is placed onto the fur at the back of the bear ’s neck opening . The proficient time to place these trackers is in the fall , when that flossy white-hot fur is becoming thick in preparation for wintertime .

Finding the right figure was a challenge . They create several attachment prototypes , which they tested on faux fur and real bear . One is mold like a pentagon , with a tracker box on a small political platform . The pelt is pulled through copper color tubes , which researchers then crimp to hold the fur in place . Another is the tri - brush attachment , which looks like a metal triangle with hard organ pipe - unobjectionable like brushes on each side that knot into the bear ’s fur . Other prototypes have included adhesives and velcro - comparable attachments .

The team partnered with zoological garden to further screen the tracker on material bear before deploying it in the wild . So far , they ’ve attached trackers to icy bear in the westerly and Southern Hudson Bay in Canada .

Image: Images: Shutterstock Graphics: Vicky Leta

Researchers ordinarily track glacial bears by look for them from a helicopter , then tranquilizing the bear and placing an auricle tag or collar . Collars only exploit on grownup distaff bear , because they lean to have wider heads than male bears . Juvenile bears develop too quickly ; a taking into custody that tally them today would be perilously small in less than a year .

Using ear tags is an invasive method acting , but the newfangled tracker does not involve pierce skin . The bur - on - fur trailing twist has allow investigator to put tracker on polar bears of all ages and sizes .

The tracking devices give researchers satellite information about a bear ’s location . York University professor Gregory Thiemann explain that researchers are netmail coordinates that they map onto GIS or Google Maps and use that to learn patterns . During a deployment in later 2021 , Thiemann and other researchers saw that , in the tumble , bears spend a lot of time stay and eventually became more active as the weather became colder .

Illustration: Vicky Leta

Illustration: Vicky Leta

Why They Did It

“ Understanding how [ pivotal bear are ] using their surroundings is super important with make trusted that we can protect those areas move forward , ” said BJ Kirschhoffer , director of conservation technology at Polar Bears International . “ If we can see place where they carry on to persevere , these are places that really do require to be protect , as we slow down our emissions . ”

“ I honestly think the most hopeful program of the rag is monitor adult males , particularly with respect to problem polar bear . So in communities like Churchill and further north , they ’re monitor problem bears , ” say Ph.D. candidate Tyler Ross , who analyzed some of the bur - on - fur trailing data . “ If they ’re coming to community , these tags can be used to get across their movement . ”

“ Understanding the kinds of habitats that they use on the glass and onshore is crucial for identifying decisive habitat under jeopardise species legislation , ” said York University Professor Gregory Thiemann . “ It ’s important to understand migratory routes , where bears are moving in unlike season . ”

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“ I feel so fortunate to have drop my career on polar bears . Both in the research side and on the conservation side , ” said Polar Bears International staff scientist Geoff York . “ They ’ve given me a career hear to understand them , and I owe them something in return . ”

Why They’re a Winner

This squad found a less invasive way to track an endangered species that is beloved around the world . Several dedicated groups come together to make the multiple attachment used for the “ burr , ” and they conducted thorough testing in the lab , in immurement , and on bears in the state of nature .

These tracker will earmark environmentalist to pick up more about how polar bears move and how they interact with the environment around them . The tracker can also be used to support community of interests safety . Several researchers reference how these trailing twist could better corroborate communities in the Arctic that take to know if a bear is come too closelipped to multitude .

What’s Next

The team project to uphold testing the trackers . presently , some trackers stick around on the bears for about 100 day , which the researchers say is ample fourth dimension to draw datum . But they hope to envision out how the various attachments can stay stuck to the bears and functional , disregarding of the aloofness the bears have travel and the environments they visit , like out on the ocean ice or with lad in cave . When hunting , polar bear also swim for foresighted distances , so researchers require to see that the burr tracker stays on during those kinds of strenuous activities .

Jon Kirschhoffer said he was surprised when a tracker fall off a bear that had been walk around willows . He discussed why it might have detach with his son , BJ . “ He say , ‘ arctic bears are like a lot like tanks . They just go in a direction and whatever is in the way , they just stray over [ it ] , they just go right through , ’ ” Kirschhoffer enounce . “ We ’ve done in - the - science laboratory examination … even the best of testing will never full present what the animal will actually do . ”

There are other info gap that researchers are go for to fill , particularly with the less - meditate adult male polar bears . Thiemann explained that some male bear forgather along bay shores and string up out . They play and hand-to-hand struggle , so future attachments will have to stay on unwaveringly if we want to learn more about those grownup male bear .

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The Team

Kevin Bangen , 3 one thousand older engineer provide 3D expert support ; Andrew Derocher , University of Alberta biology professor ; George Durner , former Research Zoologist with the United States Geological Survey ; Jennifer Ehrlich , 3 M older communications manager ; Lindsey Hines , 3 M research specialist ; Chris Kelton , 3 M ripe epitome technologist ; BJ Kirschhoffer , Polar Bears International director of preservation engineering ; Jon Kirschhoffer , former 3 1000 advanced enquiry scientist ; Marissa Krouse , Polar Bears International director of preservation programs ; Joseph Northrup of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry ; Evelyn Padilla , 3 M digital marketing leader ; Tyler Ross , York University researcher and PhD candidate ; Vasav Sahni , former 3 M advanced research medical specialist ; Gregory W. Thiemann , York University associate professor ; Vicki Trim , Manitoba regional wildlife managing director ; and Geoff York , Polar Bears International senior theatre director of conservation and stave scientist .

In coaction with the following aquariums and zoos : Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium ; Kansas City Zoo ; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium ; San Diego Zoo , Como Park Zoo ; Oregon Zoo ; Louisville Zoo ; Maryland Zoo in Baltimore ; Utah ’s Hogle Zoo ; Assiniboine Park Zoo and Toronto Zoo in Canada ; and Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Denmark .

See the full list of Gizmodo Science Fair winners

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