Alaska Biologist Helps Monitor Barren Ground Grizzlies

Jordan Pruszenski's unique job involves tracking and studying the smallest grizzly bears in Alaska

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Jordan Pruszenski, an assistant area biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, is part of a team that monitors the barren ground grizzly bears in northeastern Alaska. As part of her work, Pruszenski darts bears from a helicopter, installs GPS collars with video cameras, and takes measurements of the animals to learn more about their population and behavior.

Why it matters

Barren ground grizzlies are the smallest of Alaska's grizzly bears, living north of the Brooks Range. Little is known about their population size and how they interact with their environment during the short Arctic summer. Pruszenski's research aims to fill in these knowledge gaps and provide a better understanding of this unique bear population.

The details

Pruszenski and her team use tranquilizer darts from a helicopter to immobilize the bears, then land and install GPS collars with video cameras on the animals. They take measurements like the bear's girth, which requires Pruszenski to give the bear a 'true bear hug' for a few seconds. The team is careful to ensure the bears' well-being throughout the process, taking breaks if an animal appears too hot.

  • In the spring, Pruszenski darts bears in the rump.
  • In the summer, she darts them in the shoulder when the rump is too fat.

The players

Jordan Pruszenski

An assistant area biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks who is responsible for monitoring a large area of northeastern Alaska and studying the barren ground grizzly bears.

Ellery Vincent

A graduate student at Washington State University who is working with Pruszenski on the grizzly bear research project.

Stan Pruszenski

Jordan's father, who spent 30 years as a plain-clothes criminal investigator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lincoln Parrett

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game Regional Supervisor who has encouraged Jordan Pruszenski's efforts to become a pilot for the department.

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What they’re saying

“The kind of work we do involves spending large amounts of time in confined spaces and high-stress situations together, and Jordan is able to get the job done and still make me laugh through all of it.”

— Ellery Vincent, Graduate student (kvakradio.com)

“When you are doing this kind of work you are ultimately responsible for that animal's well-being while you are handling it. So, I am primarily focused on the seriousness of that responsibility.”

— Ellery Vincent, Graduate student (kvakradio.com)

“She's hanging out of an R44 helicopter darting moose and bears. That's unique for anyone, especially a woman. Her mother (Mary Jo) and I are extremely proud of where's she's come and how she's gotten there.”

— Stan Pruszenski, Jordan's father (kvakradio.com)

What’s next

Pruszenski and her team plan to continue monitoring the barren ground grizzly population, using the GPS and video collar data to gain a better understanding of their numbers and behavior.

The takeaway

Jordan Pruszenski's unique job of closely studying and tracking Alaska's barren ground grizzly bears highlights the important work being done to learn more about this little-known Arctic bear population and the dedication of biologists like Pruszenski who are willing to take on the challenges of fieldwork in remote and harsh environments.