Evaluating nutritional condition of grizzly bears via select blood parameters

The use of blood parameters to estimate nutritional condition of bears has yet to be validated with actual body compositions. We used bioelectrical im pedance analysis (BIA) to accurately estimate the body composition of a fre e-ranging population of grizzly tears (Ursus arctos) from the central Arcti c of the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. We then correlated their broo d hematology and metabolite parameters, previously identified by other stud ies on black bears (U. americanus) and grizzly bears to be useful indicator s of nutritional condition, to the percentage of total body fat determined by BIA. None of the examined blood parameters had a significant relation wi th total body fat levels that were free from the effects of activity, stres s, or dietary changes. Thus, interpretations of a grizzly bear's nutritiona l condition via the brood parameters we examined would be spurious.