Media release – 16 June 2026
Non-profit wildlife conservation organisation Biosphere Expeditions has successfully concluded its 2026 brown bear research field season in the forests of Dalarna County, Sweden.
Working alongside bear scientist Dr. Andrea Friebe of the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project, an international team of volunteer citizen scientists generated critical telemetry, behavioural and dietary data tracking the region’s Scandinavian brown bear (Ursus arctos) population.
The 2026 expedition operated against a backdrop of increasing ecological tension, following a historic and highly controversial large-scale government cull during the previous hunting season. Despite a reduced regional bear density, the 2026 team completed an unprecedented sweeping survey of the study site, documenting a record-breaking 46 winter dens and successfully recovering months of localised data from deep-winter temperature loggers and remote camera traps.
Unlocking the “First Scat” Mystery
Among the most critical biological discoveries of the 2026 season was the collection of 16 “first scats.” In bear biology, a first scat is the very first bowel movement excreted by a brown bear immediately upon emerging from its winter hibernation.
These specific samples are highly prized by conservation geneticists for two reasons:
Pristine DNA Preservation: Unlike standard summer scat, which degrades rapidly from environmental exposure and insects, first scat has remained protected inside the bear or the cold den. It yields exceptionally high-quality, un-degraded DNA profiles that allow researchers to identify individual bears with pinpoint accuracy.
Dietary Micro-Baselines: Analysing the cellular makeup of first scat provides scientists with an exact window into what a bear consumes the literal moment it wakes up, mapping shifting foraging behaviors as spring climates mutate.
A Multi-Year Conservation Effort
The output of the 2026 brown bear research team marks a steady operational evolution for Biosphere Expeditions in Sweden. For perspective:
2024 Season: Volunteers located and surveyed 27 dens, recorded 18 day beds, and collected 56 standard scat samples.
2025 Season: Field operations expanded data modelling despite shifting regional management goals.
2026 Season: Citizen scientists achieved a historic milestone by surveying 100% of the target dens requested by local researchers, shifting excess resources into telemetry triangulation, logger retrieval, and the tracking of predatory GPS clusters.
“The sheer volume of data our citizen scientist extracted this season gives our research partner the hard evidence needed to advocate for balanced management protocols,” said Dr. Matthias Hammer, founder of Biosphere Expeditions. “When human-wildlife conflict peaks, gut feelings cannot be allowed to dictate conservation policies. Citizen science bridges that gap with undeniable numbers.”
The Citizen Science/Volunteering Model
For almost three decades, Biosphere Expeditions has pioneered a model that brings together professional scientists and members of the public to conduct meaningful field research. Volunteers work alongside experts to collect high-quality data that contribute directly to conservation science and peer-reviewed publications.
‘This recognition demonstrates that citizen science, when done properly, can meet the highest scientific standards’, says Hammer.
‘Our participants are not just observers; they are active contributors to globally significant research and a host of positive conservation outcomes worldwide’.
Science is Strongest when Inclusive, Collaborative and Open to All
From studying endangered species to monitoring ecosystems under pressure, Biosphere Expeditions has consistently shown that committed citizens can help generate data robust enough to inform international science and policy, and create real-world conservation successes.
‘This achievement is not only a celebration of one publication, but also of a powerful idea: that science is strongest when it is inclusive, collaborative and open to all’, concludes Hammer.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Media contact: Dr. Matthias Hammer, m.hammer@biosphere-expeditions.org
The next Sweden citizen science expeditions runs 24 May – 2 June 2027. Further information on the Biosphere Expeditions website.
Biosphere Expeditions is a wildlife conservation non-profit first and foremost, driven by science and citizen scientists. Our planet is in crisis, with nature under attack like never before. We believe everyone has the power to change this. Mindful of nature, we empower people through citizen science and hands-on wildlife conservation. We are a non-profit, visionary, award-winning and ethical conservation organisation. We are a member of the IUCN, the UN’s Environment Programme and the European Citizen Science Association. Working hand-in-hand with local biologists and communities since 1999, we champion change and protect nature. And we succeed – the creation of protected areas on four continents is just one example of our many achievements.
Citizen science is defined as “public participation in scientific research”. It is an important vehicle for democratising science and promoting the goal of universal and equitable access to scientific data and information. In addition, data generated by citizen science groups have become an increasingly important source for scientists, applied users and those pursuing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In nature conservation in particular, international citizen science has become increasingly important as a duel stream of data and funding.
RESOURCES
HD pictures of the expedition.
Online press pack with image library, press releases & news, press trip information, etc.
Full list of forthcoming expeditions (press trip offers available 4-8 weeks in advance).
Annual Biosphere Expeditions Magazines with stories from the field, achievements, etc.