Collecting Scat with Citizen Science to Monitor Grizzly Bear Populations

This project is complete and the app has been deprecated.

This project is now complete. The smartphone app has been deprecated and we are no longer able to accept scat samples.

Collecting the DNA from scat is a non-invasive method of tracking grizzly bear populations. This project first developed a scat collection and DNA extraction procedure. Collecting the DNA from scat is a non-invasive method of tracking grizzly bear populations.

The first stage of this project was a collaboration in 2013 with the Norwegian Institute of Biotechnology to developed a scat collection and DNA extraction procedure. Collecting the DNA from scat is a non-invasive method of tracking grizzly bear populations.

The Grizzly Bear Program then worked to develop a smartphone app called the Grizzly Bear Scat App that is available for free on iOS and Android devices. Citizen scientists who recreate in the area can download the app and pick up scat collection kits. The simple process empowers anyone enjoying the landscape to contribute to grizzly bear conservation.

After a short fall 2014 trial run, we partnered with Jasper National Park to scale up citizen scientist recruitment. The collaboration with Parks Canada is ongoing and publications are in progress.

Grizzly bears have suffered dramatic range reductions and suspected population declines due to over-exploitation and habitat loss. As a result of five years of intensive DNA population inventory work and 11 years of directed province-wide research activities by the fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program, Alberta changed the status of grizzly bears in Alberta to a threatened species in June 2010.

Our grizzly bear research has yielded new knowledge and planning tools which our government can use to make science-based management decisions. However, without additional scientific data to help guide and direct grizzly bear recovery efforts, it will be difficult to achieve and document recovery of this flagship conservation species.

Population inventories are labour intensive and costly. The home ranges of grizzly bears is very large and comprises vast areas of remote wilderness and their low population densities requires robust samplling. A common non-invasive technique extracts DNA from hair snags set up at hundreds of locations. This was how the Grizzly Bear Program produced population estimates in 2004 and 2014.

Getting DNA from scat collected by citizen scientists is a cost-effective way to supplement hair snag data.

This project is was completed in 2018 and the app has been deprecated.

April 2013
Project Begins

Phase 1: testing different scat collection and DNA extraction methods

Fall 2013
First Field Season Complete

Simple collection procedure created

Winter 2014
Methods Verified

Samples sent to the Scandinavian lab for DNA extraction

April 2014
Citizen Science Phase Begins

Confidence in collection and DNA extraction methods established

July 2014
Scat App Development Begins

Phase 2: using citizen scientists to collect scat for grizzly bear monitoring

September 2014
Scat App Completed

Smartphone apps for iOS and Android in development

Fall 2014
Pilot Project Begins

The Grizzly Scat App is released for iOS and Android

April 2015
Partnered with Jasper National Park

The first pilot project, using local hunters as citizen scientists, begins

January 2016
Lab Work Underway

Scat samples sent to the Scandinavian lab for analysis

April 2016
Jasper National Park Joins

JNP launches Scat Seeker pilot project to recruit more citizen scientists

Summer 2016
Analysis underway

DNA data being studied

February 2017
Results Released

Final report published

2017 – 2019
Other Scat Collection Work

We continued to refine these methods, receiving opportunistic samples from industry employees and the public.

2020
App Deprecated

With the citizen science component complete, the smartphone applications will no longer be maintained.

bear scat. a gloved hand holds a Popsicle stick with a small sample on the end
Videos | Scientific Publications | Audio-Visual | Manual and Guides
Instructions for how to collect scat samples for the Grizzly Bear Program
stages of citizen science
Scientific Publications | Reports
Final report from the Grizzly Bear Program
Videos | Summaries and Communications | Audio-Visual | Presentation Slides
Presentation by Grizzly Bear Program lead Gordon Stenhouse at the PTAC Ecological Issues forum.
grizzly bear
Scientific Publications | Peer Reviewed Papers
Peer-reviewed paper from the fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program
Summaries and Communications | Media Articles
Blog post about the grizzly bear scat app/citizen science project in Jasper National Park
screenshot of a global news article
Summaries and Communications | Media Articles
Article from Global News regarding the fRI and Jasper National Park program for bear scat collection
Summaries and Communications | Media Articles
Article published in the newsletter in the International Bear News about DNA research using grizzly bear scat app
GIS Products | Tools and Apps
Apps now available for Android and iOS for the grizzly bear citizen science project.
Summaries and Communications | Media Articles
Article from the Edson Leader regarding the Grizzly Bear Scat App project
Anja in a bear den
Blog
Anja Sorensen will be sharing a unique project from the Grizzly Bear Program at the IRC on July 17.
fRI Research at 24th International Conference on Bear Research and Management
Blog
The Grizzly Bear and Caribou Programs were in Alaska to present our research at IBA 2016.
Announcement
Apps now available for Android and iOS for the grizzly bear citizen science project.
Anja Sorensen
Anja Sorensen
Wildlife Research Biologist
Terry Larsen
Terry Larsen
Biologist
karen graham
Karen Graham
Biologist
Gord Stenhouse
Gord Stenhouse
Advisor
Julie Duval
Julie Duval
Manager