In the past, hair samples of sufficient size for analysis could only be collected during capture. This was dangerous for the biologists and stressful for the bear. Bears brush up against the barbed wire leaving hair samples for DNA analysis. Scent stations are inexpensive, easy to set up and monitor, safer for bears and humans than previous methods of hair collection, and will make systematic analysis of bear-DNA possible. Bear Management Educating people is the key to promoting an environment of safe coexistence between bears and humans.
Bears live long and healthy lives without any help from humans.
Bear management specialists deal with such issues as bear-human conflicts, relocating problem bears, and human caused mortality. This includes educating people on the safety techniques for living, hunting, fishing, hiking and camping in bear country. Grizzly bear biologists carry aerosol pepper spray to deter bears that are coming too close. Tests show that the bears do not suffer long-lasting adverse effects from the pepper spray. If you travel in grizzly country, do what many bear biologists do- carry pepper spray.