Norwegian Government Asks Hikers To Collect Bear Poop
Environmental officials in Norway have asked hikers to pick up any bear droppings they find and send them in so that they can carry out DNA analysis. The move follows research carried out by the government into the bear population in the country using the same method but now that they want to expand the study, and they need help from members of the public to get as much data as possible.
“We encourage anyone who is outdoors this autumn to pick up bear droppings and hair and deliver them to the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate in the area,” says Rovdata head Jonas Kindberg. “Avoid touching the droppings – turn a plastic bag inside out to pick them up.”
The officials will use information gathered from the DNA testing of the bear excrement to determine how big the population is in Norway. Bear numbers fell significantly during the 20th Century due to poachers and the destruction of their natural habitat, however efforts have been underway in recent years to solve this issue. For those who want to help, officials have created a special brochure and advise that the dropping should be frozen until they are collected.
