Habituation of Grizzly Bears to People: A Hypothesis
Reports of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) observations between 1977 and 1979 in Glacier National Park were examined to test whether the behavior of grizzly bears was different in areas with high versus low levels of human activity. In both types of areas, females with young were more likely than adults and subadults to avoid human-use […]
Human-Bear Interactions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
An ethological investigation of panhandler black bears (Ursus americanus), conducted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 1976 through 1978, focused on agonistic behavior exhibited by these bears in their interactions with park visitors. Seven different types of aggression were recorded. Apparent precipitating factors for such behavior were divided into 20 categories, e.g., handfeeding, petting, […]
Effect of Yosemite Backcountry Use Levels on Incidents with Black Bears
Black bear (Ursus americanus) incidents, defined as property damage or personal injury by bears, increased dramatically in recent years in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park, California. Since all backcountry zones do not receive the same level of visitor use, incidents could be compared between zones of various use levels. Data collected from 1976 through […]
Computer-Assisted Habitat Mapping for Black Bear Management in Shenandoah National Park
The objective of black bear (Ursus americanus) management in Shenandoah National Park has been to minimize property damage and personal injury to Park visitors while maintaining the bear population as a part of the natural fauna. Past management attention has been directed at educating visitors; however, future efforts will incorporate more biologically oriented strategies, and […]
BIMS: The Bear Reporting Network for the National Park Service
The U.S. National Park Service employs a nationwide computer network to make reports of bear-related events available to managers in parks, regional, and national offices simultaneously. This is the Bear Information Management System, BIMS. It is operated by managers and technicians through use of interactive programs. A flexible structure enables each park to store data […]
Insulin and Glucagon Responses in the Hibernating Black Bear
To study the hormonal changes during hibernation in the black bear (Ursus americanus), 2 adult male bears were injected with insulin and with glucagon during their active and hibernating phases, and plasma urea, glucose, insulin, glucagon, and corticosteroids were measured before and after. The baseline urea values decreased during hibernation a pattern consistent with protein […]
Behavior, Biochemistry, and Hibernation in Black, Grizzly, and Polar Bears
Annual behavioral and biochemical patterns of black bears (Ursus americanus), grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were reviewed. We propose that black and grizzly bears show 4 annual physiological stages: Stage I – hibernation, in which lean body mass is preserved and body fat supplies energy; Stage II – walking hibernation, […]
Possible Relationships between Trichinellosis and Abnormal Behavior in Bears
Data compiled from parasite studies of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (U. americanus) in the Yellowstone and Glacier National Park populations and surrounding areas of Montana and Wyoming during 1969-79 are reviewed with reference to the possible influence of infection with the muscleworm Trichinella sp. on bear behavior. In grizzly bears, the high […]
Responses of Captive Grizzly and Polar Bears to Potential Repellents
Potential bear repellents were tested on 2 male grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and 2 female polar bears (U. maritimus) at the Churchill Bear Laboratory, Churchill, Manitoba. Fifteen to 18 stimuli were tested on each bear. The stimuli were selected randomly from a list of possible repellents that included recorded bear and people sounds, bells, […]
Responses of Polar Bears to Human Menstrual Odors
Laboratory and field tests were conducted at Churchill, Manitoba, in 1978 and 1979 to determine whether human menstrual odors attract polar bears (Ursus maritimus). The polar bear was chosen because the odor of its primary prey, seals, could be used as a standard attractant against which the relative attractiveness of other scents could be measured. […]
