February 8, 2023
Page 9
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
Zoo Polar Bear Helps with Arctic Conservation Challenge
New 'Burr on
Fur' technology
could help wild
polar bears
Sometimes a sticky problem
demands a sticky solution. As cli-
mate change reduces Arctic sea
ice, scientists and wildlife manag-
ers need to know how polar bears
are responding but that’s easier
said than done.
“Polar bears are notoriously
difficult to study in the wild,” said
Amy Hash, who supervises the
Oregon Zoo’s marine life area.
“They live in one of the harshest
environments on the planet, and
observing their behavior is just
about impossible.”
To help, zoo polar bear Nora
has been beta testing the “Burr on
Fur” — a prototype tech innova-
tion designed by 3M in partner-
ship with Polar Bears Internation-
al to give conservation scientists a
better way to track wild bears in
the Arctic. Traditionally, scien-
Oregon’s Zoo Polar bear, Nora
tists have used satellite collars to
follow polar bears, but those only
work on adult females.
“Adult males can’t be collared
because their necks are as wide
as their heads, and young bears
grow too quickly to be collared,”
said Geoff York, senior director of
conservation at Polar Bears Inter-
national. “The devices designed
by 3M represent a major poten-
tial step forward. They could be
used on all types of polar bears
and would allow us to safely ob-
tain critical data.” The device is
meant to fall off on its own even-
tually, but with an active bear like
Nora, it only lasted several days.
Researchers are looking for some-
thing that can stay with wild bears
for a longer period of time and are
trying out different ways to attach
the device.
“Nora’s a great beta tester,”
Hash said. “The way she dives and
splashes really helps evaluate how
effective a technology like this
will be. We hope to try again with
another ‘burr on fur’ once there’s
another good opportunity. We’re
excited to continue collaborating
with our conservation partners,
and this is a great way for guests
to see some of that important work
in action.”
As climate change reduces Arc-
tic sea ice, polar bears struggle
to find and catch seals, making
it harder for them and their cubs
to survive. The species is classi-
fied as threatened under the U.S.
Endangered Species Act, and the
International Union for the Con-
servation of Nature’s Species Sur-
vival Commission has designated
the species as facing a high risk of
global extinction.
A world premiere from one of the
hottest playwrights in America!
“We cannot
walk alone.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
(503) 235-8655
voaor.org/services
Change Begins with You
“A talented, smart, and very funny writer.”
–Chicago Tribune
FEB 11 – MAR 26
We specialize in family safety, substance use
disorder, behavioral health, and reentry from
the criminal justice system.
BIPOC AFFINITY MAR 17
503.445.3700 | PCS.ORG
Let us help you find your pathway to wellness.