RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) —Researchers at North Carolina State University have completed a genomic survey of North Carolina black bears, identifying significant differences in genetic health between mountain and coastal populations. The findings provide wildlife management and law enforcement with new tools to monitor population resilience and track illegal poaching.
Led by postdoctoral researcher Isabella Livingston and genomics professor Matthew Breen at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the study analyzed DNA from 76 black bears across two state management units. The researchers found that coastal bears show lower genetic diversity and higher levels of inbreeding compared to mountain bears, despite the coastal region having a larger overall bear population…