Wildlife Welfare

Adult grizzly approaches non-invasive hair snag station, leaving us his or her DNA

February 14th, 2018

A key value upheld by our lab is employing non-invasive methods of studying wildlife to reduce potential harm to research animals. This ‘wildlife welfare’ ethic is evident during our multiyear bear monitoring research. In collaboration with our Central Coast First Nations colleagues, we monitor black and grizzly bears by setting up hair snag stations in Gitga’at, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xaixais, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv Territories. This non-invasive method yields high quality genetic, isotopic and hormonal data, allowing us to learn about bears—wide-ranging and often elusive animals—without handling them.

In the spirit of this wildlife welfare ethic, I am investigating to what extent individual animal welfare applies to wildlife during scientific research. Specifically, my research examines editorial policies regarding animal care in wildlife research journals. Given that findings from research that impose suffering might be of questionable scientific merit if animal behaviour is modified, it is my hope that this work will not only safeguard research animals from potential suffering, but also uphold and preserve scientific integrity.

Kate A. Field

Master’s student – Raincoast Conservation Fellow