Tribal Natural Resources

Blending science and spirit: Navajo Ph.D. student studies black bears with cultural reverence

KJZZ | By Paola Rodriguez/AZPM

Published April 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM MST

A black bear is caught on camera in the Navajo Nation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is funding a $100,000 grant to research human-bear interactions on the Navajo Nation.

University of Arizona Ph.D. student Deandra Jones is blending science with tradition while researching human-black bear interactions in the Navajo Nation.

With the increase of development, Jones wants to know how often the two interact to better inform the community and agencies about what to do around black bears.

“[The Department of Fish and Wildlife] had said that over the years, there have been increasing calls to the department about human bear conflict,” Jones said. “We need to be doing our part and being responsible; take part in trying to help protect them or preserve them in any way that we can.”

Read the full story on AZPM.org →

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