Beagle sniffs out pregnant polar bears

Current pregnancy tests are difficult

Zoos around the country will soon find out if their polar bears are pregnant.

A beagle named Elvis has been training for a year by a Kansas handler who's taught dogs to sniff out everything from explosives to bed bugs.

A Cincinnati Zoo animal conservation scientist had the idea after reading about studies on using dogs to detect cancer.

Elvis has been checking out fecal samples of bears from 14 zoos.

Experts have a tough time confirming pregnancies of the threatened species, and zoo officials say knowing can help them make sure they and the mama bears are ready for birthing and raising cubs.