Bear Tracker
Follow the movements of satellite-collared polar bears on the Beaufort Sea.
Date Started: 03/27/2009
Last Location: 02/05/2010
Last Location: 02/05/2010
Map Usage
Roll your mouse cursor over a bear icon to see information about a particular bear. Click on a bear icon to see the route that bear has taken since the Bear Tracker was created. Click the plus and minus buttons in the top left to zoom into the map for a more detailed view.
Why Track the Bears?
Every year, scientists put satellite collars on a small number of polar bears to help them better understand how the population is faring. The technology lets research teams track the bears' movements, habitat use, fidelity to areas, and the survival of their cubs. New sensors also allow scientists to detect how much time the bears are spending in the water-important data to know in terms of Arctic sea ice loss.
The collars are lightweight and don't harm the bears. They are designed to fall off on their own in 14 months. Interestingly, scientists are only able to put collars on female bears. A male polar bear's neck is as wide as its head, so the collar just slips off. To learn more about satellite collars, click here.
Polar Bears International wishes to thank the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center for providing the data which makes this feature possible.
Roll your mouse cursor over a bear icon to see information about a particular bear. Click on a bear icon to see the route that bear has taken since the Bear Tracker was created. Click the plus and minus buttons in the top left to zoom into the map for a more detailed view.
Why Track the Bears?
Every year, scientists put satellite collars on a small number of polar bears to help them better understand how the population is faring. The technology lets research teams track the bears' movements, habitat use, fidelity to areas, and the survival of their cubs. New sensors also allow scientists to detect how much time the bears are spending in the water-important data to know in terms of Arctic sea ice loss.
The collars are lightweight and don't harm the bears. They are designed to fall off on their own in 14 months. Interestingly, scientists are only able to put collars on female bears. A male polar bear's neck is as wide as its head, so the collar just slips off. To learn more about satellite collars, click here.
Polar Bears International wishes to thank the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center for providing the data which makes this feature possible.