Collar Cams Offer Rare Glimpse Into Lives of Grizzlies on Alaska's North Slope

Researchers use wearable cameras to study remote Arctic bear population

Feb. 1, 2026 at 7:47am

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Researchers at Washington State University and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are using collar-mounted cameras to study a remote population of grizzly bears on Alaska's desolate North Slope. The videos captured by the 12 bears outfitted with the cameras provide a rare first-person perspective into how these bears survive the region's harsh, treeless environment, including foraging for food, interacting with other wildlife, and preparing for their long hibernation.

Why it matters

This research project offers unprecedented insight into the lives of one of the most remote grizzly bear populations in the world. The data collected, including details on the bears' feeding habits, movements, and interactions with other species, will help wildlife biologists better understand how this population is adapting to its harsh Arctic environment, especially as the region faces increasing oil and gas development.

The details

The researchers have outfitted 12 of the roughly 200 grizzly bears on Alaska's North Slope with collar-mounted cameras that record short video clips every 10-15 minutes. These clips show the bears engaging in a variety of behaviors, from eating caribou and musk ox carcasses, to hunting caribou calves, to foraging for berries. The videos also captured a peaceful encounter between a bear and a pack of wolves. The cameras provide a unique first-person perspective that would be impossible to obtain through traditional observation methods in this remote, treeless region.

  • The researchers first outfitted the bears with the collar cams 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 located in Pullman, Washington, that is collaborating on this grizzly bear research project.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

The state agency responsible for managing Alaska's wildlife, including the grizzly bear population on the North Slope.

Ellery Vincent

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

Jordan Pruszenski

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

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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

“It is not difficult, but there is a lot of thought that goes into making sure the collar is adjusted properly.”

— Ellery Vincent, Doctoral student, Washington State University

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue the study for another two years, adding collar cams to 24 more bears in the remote North Slope population.

The takeaway

This innovative research project is providing an unprecedented window into the lives of one of the most isolated grizzly bear populations in the world, offering critical insights that can help wildlife managers better understand and protect these Arctic bears as they face increasing pressures from oil and gas development in their remote habitat.