M'Clintock Channel Polar Bear health - Baseline Estimates From Polar Bear Faeces

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the use of non-ivasively collected polar bear tissue samples for their use in a Polar Bear Activity Survey. This non-invasive survey is conducted on the ground using Inuit knowledge and labour. Once this evaluation is complete, robust and valid components of the survey will integrated into a meaningful activity survey. This survey will provide an estimate of Minimum Number Known Alive (MNKA) for any polar bear population, and an estimate of their health and diet. In this record we specifically report on assays to collect polar bear microsatellite genotype, polar bear genetic sex, stable Isotope, genetic diet, microbiome, gut pathogen, and 5 hormone profiles from wild polar bear faeces. These developments should see Inuit participate in a more significant way in the monitoring and management of Nunavuts polar bears.