Previously, we showed you how the bear was darted and moved to the workup area.

These photos show the procedure for the workup.  Numbered eartags are applied to each of the bear’s ears.  These match the lip tattoo (not pictured) that is also given to the bear.  These numbers identify this bear in the event that it is killed by a hunter or by a vehicle, or is killed as a nuisance bear.

Fortunately, none of the previously released ABR bears have ever been identified as nuisance bears.  When they leave ABR, they are truly wild and avoid people.

Another step in the workup is the pulling of a few hairs, for DNA analysis.  This is a further identification of the individual bear.  Just as in CSI, they check to make sure they have roots, where the DNA is found.