Collar Cams Offer Rare Glimpse Into Grizzly Life on Alaska's North Slope

Researchers use wearable cameras to study remote grizzly bear population in the Arctic

Feb. 1, 2026 at 7:31am

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Researchers at Washington State University and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are using collar cameras to document the lives of grizzly bears on Alaska's remote and desolate North Slope. The videos provide a rare firsthand look at how these bears survive the harsh Arctic conditions, including foraging for food, interacting with other animals, and preparing for hibernation.

Why it matters

The study aims to gain deeper insights into how this remote population of grizzly bears is adapting to their environment, including the potential impacts of oil and gas development in the region. The footage could help inform conservation efforts and identify critical denning areas that need to be protected.

The details

The researchers have outfitted 12 of the roughly 200 grizzly bears in the area with collar cameras that record short video clips throughout the day. The videos show the bears engaging in a variety of behaviors, from eating caribou and berries to interacting with wolves. The researchers are particularly interested in understanding how the bears are able to pack on enough fat to survive their 8-month hibernation period each year.

  • The researchers first outfitted the bears with the collar cameras in May 2026.
  • They replaced the collars and downloaded data in August and September 2026.
  • The study is planned to continue for another two years, with plans to add collars to 24 more bears.

The players

Washington State University

A public research university that is leading the grizzly bear study in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

The state wildlife agency that is partnering with Washington State University on the grizzly bear research project.

Ellery Vincent

A doctoral student at Washington State University who is leading the grizzly bear research project.

Jordan Pruszenski

A wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game who is working on the grizzly bear study.

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What they’re saying

“We're interested in looking at kind of a broad scale of how they're obtaining the food that allows them to survive through the year and what exactly they're choosing to eat.”

— Ellery Vincent, Doctoral student, Washington State University

“One thing that's really nice about these bears is that when they're foraging on a particular food they tend to do that one thing for a long period of time, so these bears will spend pretty much their entire day eating, so the chances of us actually seeing what they're doing are pretty high.”

— Ellery Vincent, Doctoral student, Washington State University

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue the study for another two years, with plans to add collar cameras to 24 more bears in the remote North Slope population. The data collected could help identify critical denning areas that need to be protected from oil and gas development in the region.

The takeaway

This innovative research project is providing a rare, firsthand look at how one of the most remote grizzly bear populations in the world is adapting to the harsh Arctic environment. The footage could offer valuable insights to help guide conservation efforts and inform decisions about responsible development in this delicate ecosystem.