RDP Instructor Receives Historic Grant to Advance Applied Research on Black Bears

Sandra MacDougall, Biology instructor at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), has been awarded a $474,700 grant to amplify black bear research. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has provided $426,000 to this research over three years. This is the largest grant provided by NSERC that an RDP instructor has ever received, exemplifying the value of MacDougall’s research on the national stage. In addition, MacDougall has received nearly $50,000 over two years from the Alberta Conservation Association.

This historic grant will provide MacDougall the opportunity to examine the characteristics of a recolonizing population of American black bears within the Beaver Hills Biosphere region located 40 km east of Edmonton. The study will explore how fast the bear population is growing and what bears are eating seasonally, with a lens to predict the impact of black bear predation on Elk Island National Park’s ungulate populations (e.g. elk and moose). 

“This applied research grant will create a vast impact on Alberta, contributing to academia and wildlife education,” says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President, Applied Research. “Sandra’s innovative research is one example of the diverse applied research that occurs across the Polytechnic. At RDP, we are committed to advancing our applied research capacity, helping to address a variety of societal and industrial challenges.” 

In collaboration with Parks Canada (Elk Island National Park) and Bueddefeld Research and Consulting, MacDougall’s research creates unique opportunities for Red Deer Polytechnic students. 

“The NSERC grant provides RDP students with immersive applied research experiences to enhance their education and training,” says MacDougall. “This summer, we have been able to employ two student research technicians, Meggie Mackenzie, a fourth-year learner and Kyle Rix, a recent graduate of RDP’s Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences program. This research is one example of how we provide industry-relevant experiences to help our students prepare for rewarding careers.”

This summer, Mackenzie and Rix have performed several tasks, including conducting kill site investigations, locating bear dens, collecting scat samples and managing data. 

The applied research project will also provide opportunities for dozens of RDP learners beyond Mackenzie and Rix. Each year, approximately 15 students enrolled in RDP’s Biology 4401 Field Methods in Ecology course will contribute to the research by helping to track bears using telemetry gear and collect scat samples of black bears. Through these activities they will learn about bear movement and feeding ecology. Students will also conduct lab analyses to examine bear diets co-supervised by RDP Chemistry Instructor Warren Elgersma in RDP’s Biology 2399 Biology Research Opportunity Program.

Human activity and residential development in the Edmonton region are expected to grow as the local black bear population increases in nearby Beaver Hills. This study will help inform land use planning, wildlife management and educational outreach. The outcomes gained from this study will have the potential to be implemented across sites nationally at Parks Canada and their neighbouring communities.

The research that MacDougall is currently engaged in builds on years of experience and research she has conducted while also teaching at Red Deer Polytechnic. For instance, over the last decade, MacDougall was an integral part of the team that developed the Alberta Transportation Alberta Wildlife Watch (AWW) Program. The AWW Program is a province-wide safety program that collects and analyzes real-time animal carcass data to identify wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots to support transportation planning. 

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