Towards The Validation Of Endogenous Steroid Testing In Wildlife Hair

The document reviewed the use of hair analysis to measure steroid hormones in wild mammals, highlighting its potential for assessing stress and reproductive hormones. While 85% of 72 studies validated the analytical methods, only five species had physiological validations, with inconsistent results. New data showed a positive correlation between hair and blood cortisol levels in eight mammalian species and variable hair growth in genetically identical mice. The review concluded that more validations, especially for reproductive steroids, were needed to enhance the method's application in wildlife research and conservation. Despite challenges, hair testing was seen as a promising non-invasive method for monitoring physiological and environmental influences on wildlife.