Kevin Middel (L) and Martyn Obbard (R) fitting a GPS/satellite radio collar to an adult female polar bear along Ontario’s Hudson Bay coast, October 2008. (Photo: D. Holtby)
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Adult female polar bear, X30491, fitted with a GPS/satellite radio collar. On the Polar Bear Tracker map, this bear is also known as "Copenhagen". (Photo: D. Holtby)
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Tools of the trade: GPS collar, two-way radio and Lotek tracking unit. |
As many of us know, the impacts of climate change are not only going to affect us, but also wild animals. Changes in habitat, food sources, temperature and precipitation are just a few of the things that may require animals to adapt in order to survive or populations don’t survive. This is why the Ministry of Natural Resources is researching the effects of climate change on the Southern Hudson Bay polar bear population.
In the fall of 2008 MNR researchers collared 13 polar bears with GPS satellite radio collars along the coasts of James Bay and Hudson Bay. With the collars picking up six GPS locations daily for each bear, researchers can track where the bears are headed with incredible accuracy. This will help them to identify bear movement patterns, as well as how ice conditions will affect survival rates and population abundance.
Now everyone can check out what is happening with three of the MNR collared polar bears through the online Polar Bear Tracker. In partnership with WWF for the second year, the tracking tool allows you to view the movements of “Truth”, “Harmony” & “Copenhagen” through the WWF website.
The MNR works with many different partners to conduct this research, including colleagues at the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto at Scarborough, University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Conservation organizations, such as World Wildlife Fund (Canada) have also supported aspects of the research by providing funding for graduate student support, laboratory expenses, and purchase of GPS satellite radio collars.
A screen capture showing the Ontario section of the Polar Bear Tracker online tool.
