Research

Katmai Conservancy supports important aerial brown bear abundance research, non-invasive coastal wolf and bear DNA genotyping studies, a volcano mercury emissions study, a bear conservation and tourism study, and more.

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Bear Abundance Research

The Park continues to compile a long-term dataset using aerial surveys to count bears congregating on various salmon spawning streams. The surveys now span five decades and serve as an index of timing and abundance of bears and salmon.

Coastal Wolf and Bear Genetic Research

Katmai’s coastal ecosystems are experiencing increasing visitation, changing ocean conditions, and expanding commercial and industrial development that may impact species reliant on the nearshore environment. This study uses noninvasive DNA metabarcoding to track the movements, diets, and population density of wolves and bears on the Park’s coastline.

Volcano Mercury Emission Study

This study aims to define the relationship between volcanoes and mercury levels found in the waterways of the Katmai ecosystem.

Brooks Camp Visitor Survey 2023

Survey results add valuable insight into the perceptions and experiences of Brooks Camp visitors during a year of near-record high visitation and provide another tool to help the National Park service staff at Katmai manage the visitor experience.

Click here to read the full report, and stay tuned for studies based on the results of this survey to be published in the future.

Ethnobotany Education Kits

We support Katmai’s ethnobotanical studies and the creation of education and outreach kits for local communities, helping to preserve indigenous knowledge of local plants and their uses.