Researchers at College of the Atlantic have launched a multi‑year study to better understand black bears on Mount Desert Island, and are inviting residents and visitors to contribute to their work.
The study, led by Kim M. Wentworth Chair in Environmental Studies Brittany Slabach, focuses on the population size, movement patterns, and genetic relationships of black bears on MDI, where sightings have increased over the past decade.
The project will assess whether a resident bear population exists on the island and how bears are using its unique mix of national park land, villages, and private property.
“This work fills a major information gap on MDI,” Slabach said. “We’re hoping the community will help us by reporting observations so we can have a clearer picture of the ecology of bears on the island.”
Although black bears have long been present in Acadia National Park, there is a growing need to learn more about the bear population and their interactions within the park, Slabach said. With approximately 70% of MDI encompassed by Acadia, and with park boundaries interwoven with towns and exurban areas, this study will provide insights into the MDI bear population that could be used to inform management and potentially reduce conflicts between bears and people.
The National Park Service and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are collaborating on the project. The latter estimates that there are 25,000-27,000 black bears in the state.
Slabach and student researchers are using hair snares, a widely used, passive wildlife monitoring technique, to collect DNA samples. Each snare consists of barbed wire wrapped around several trees with a scent lure. When a bear investigates, it may leave behind hair on the wire, allowing researchers to extract DNA and estimate population size, relatedness, and movement patterns.
The team is asking residents, visitors, and regional organizations to report non‑emergency bear sightings through a wildlife survey at go.coa.edu/bearreport. Conflicts, threats to public safety, or property damage should be reported directly to the National Park Service or MDIFW.
