Swedish bears stress tested – Sveriges Radio

With the help of GPS transmitters on both the bears and the field staff, researchers have been able to see how the bear reacted in close contact.

– What we have seen is that when people come closer than 60 to 100 meters as creeping bear up and sneaks away. Although we know where the bear is, it’s very seldom we get to see it, says Ole Gunnar Støen, researchers in the Scandinavian bear project.

The question scientists will now try to answer is whether the bear is as calm as it seems.

In three years, scientists had implanted monitors the bears. The monitors Read and record the bears’ body temperature and heart rate.

– In this way we can see what happens purely physiological with the bear when a man or dog approaching, says Ole Gunnar Støen.

the research is conducted on a hundred bears in northern Sweden, Dalarna and Gavleborg.

In the spring, the bears anesthetic and monitors that records body temperature and heart rate picked out.

Then all data compiled and the end of next year, researchers estimate that there may exist some data on how the bears react to the meeting with hikers and hunters.

– in practical terms, it is this pursuit of which can be a useful area for research. We’ll see if there are methods that are stressful and how stressful, says Ole Gunnar Støen.

Ulf Larsson, echo in Lulea
ulf.larsson@sverigesradio.se