This summer, I've been working with Dr. Mark Cunningham and the Wildlife Fish and Game Commission on the Ocala National Forest Bear Project. The project captures and releases bears, sometimes fitting them with a radio collar to assist with reseach into bear behavior. Specifically, the Dept. of Transporation wants to know how widening a specific section of Highway 40 will affect resident bear populations. The good news is, bear populations are on the rise, but the downside to that is that more bears are being killed on the highway.
This bear was caught in a snare trap in the Ocala National Forest. He is a 6yr old 250lb male, and very healthy to boot. Many male reach and surpass 400lbs, so this guy had a ways to go. You can see green marks around his muzzle. That green mess is from his tattoo, which was placed on his lip, on the inside. He was also fitted with an ear tag.
Bears, when caught for this project, are subjected to a thorough medical analysis by a vet. The data collected also goes towards another study dealing with the health of various bear populations in the state. This bear was not fitted with a radio collar, as he is a male, and the majority of bears caught are males, so radio collars are usually put on females now. They reached they're male quota long ago :). This bear was happily on his way shortly after these pictures were taken.
I will have more info up on the bear project soon.