Blake Shelton studies bear cubs in Oklahoma with researchers

(KOCO) –  Country music superstar and Oklahoma native Blake Shelton spent the day studying black bears in eastern Oklahoma with researchers and biologists, according to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation.

Shelton, who serves as a board director for the foundation, watched as wildlife biologists and bear researchers with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Oklahoma State Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources collected data from a bear cub.

The foundation shared a photo of Shelton holding the bear cub on Saturday on its official Facebook page. According to the foundation, bear biologists recorded the weight, chest girth, sex and any distinguishing marks. They also inserted a tracking tag, similar to a microchip, which researchers can scan for identification purposes if they ever catch the bear again. Lastly, they returned the cub to its mother in her den.

In order for researchers to get the cub to collect data, wildlife officials said they had to tranquilize the mama bear. Researchers don’t leave until they know the mother bear is back to normal and the cub is safe.

The foundation is raffling off an opportunity to be a “bear biologist” for a day
through its Outdoor Oklahoma Adventures raffle program. All money raised will go directly to the department’s conservation efforts, officials said. Click here to learn more.