Blood profile of grizzly bears in central and northern Alaska

Abstract

Blood from 151 grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) captured between 1973 and 1982 in the Brooks Range, Alaska, and the Alaska Range was examined for 7 hanatological, 24 serum chemistry, and 6 protein electrophoretic determinations. Differences in these characteristics between samples collected one hour apart indicate a response to stress during capture. Location differences in leukocyte count, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and cortisol suggest that Alaska Range bears were more stressed by capturing than Brooks Range bears. Sodium, creatinine, and urea nitrogen were negatively correlated with capture date, suggesting varied diet reinstatement and regained renal function as time from den emergence increased. Calcium, phosphorous, and alkaline phosphatase were negatively correlated with age, reflecting increased osteoblast activity and bone formation in young bears. Males had higher values than females for erythrocyte count, hematocrit, glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, and alkaline phosphatase, while glutamic-oxalacetic and glutamic-pyruvic transaminases were higher in females.