As part of their bear inventory, Länsstyrelsen (County Administrative Board) of Norrbotten has conducted a pilot study in Jokkmokk municipality, utilizing bear hair traps and hidden cameras. Within a 754-square-kilometer area, bear hair was collected from trees treated with tar to attract the animals. The traps themselves consisted of bait and barbed wire.
Wildlife officer Rebecca Forsberg explained that the goal was to collect a small portion of the hair follicle, where the DNA is located. The pilot study demonstrated that bear hair traps could effectively supplement the bear inventory, particularly in roadless areas above the cultivation boundary. DNA analyses could identify bears that had not been detected through fecal samples.
Forsberg noted that some bears had been detected through feces but not hair, and vice versa. This method could also indicate the absence of bears in a particular area. If unknown bears were discovered during the licensed hunt, it would suggest a lack of understanding about the local bear population.
Regarding future use of bear hair traps, Forsberg stated that while funding was currently unavailable, she hoped to incorporate this method into the 2026 inventory. She also encouraged the public to be observant and look for bear hair on tree trunks in the forest.