Diet and Feeding Habits of Asiatic Black Bears in the Northern Japanese Alps
Habitat loss and bear-human conflicts are reported throughout Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) range. Sound understanding of Asiatic black bear food habits and ecology is needed to develop effective conservation policies to protect or restore Asiatic black bear habitat and to reduce bear-human conflicts. We documented food habits and aspects of the feeding ecology of […]
Grizzly Bear Food Habits in the Northern Yukon, Canada
We documented seasonal food habits of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Firth River Valley, Ivvavik National Park (INP), northern Yukon, Canada, 1993-1995 using: (1) analysis of 176 scats, (2) 222 hours of direct observation, and (3) 99 feeding site investigations. In spring, the primary grizzly bear food plants were alpine hedysarum (Hedysarum alpinum) roots […]
Experiences with Aversive Conditioning of Habituated Brown Bears in Austria and Other European Countries
In 1995, a team was formed to respond to problem brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Austria. As part of that team, during 1995-2000 we performed 16 aversive conditioning experiments and attempted an additional 10 experiments on 7 target animals. We used rubber bullets, cracker shells, warning shots, and other fireworks. The effects varied considerably from […]
Survival of Nuisance American Black Bears Released On-Site in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Since 1990, wildlife biologists in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) have used capture and on-site release as the primary management technique to reduce recurrence of nuisance activity by American black bears (Ursus americanus). On-site release involves the capture and immobilization of bears that frequent developed areas, collection of biological data, and subsequent release in […]
Andean Bear Habitat Use in the Oyacachi River Basin, Ecuador
One of the primary threats to Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) populations in Ecuador is conversion of bear habitat to human uses, resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation. To develop science-based conservation plans, information on the suitability and distribution of Andean bear habitat is critically needed. We studied habitat use in the 721-km2 Oyacachi River Basin […]
Female American Black Bear Use of Managed Forest and Agricultural Lands in Coastal North Carolina
American black bear use of intensively managed forestry and agricultural environments in the southeastern United States is poorly understood. During 1992-94, we radiomonitored female black bears (Ursus americanus) to determine home range and habitat use characteristics in 2 managed agroforestry environments in the North Carolina coastal plain. These areas represented opposite ends of the land-management […]
The Extent and Location of Habitat Biophysically Suitable for Grizzly Bears in the Yellowstone Region
We appraised the extent of potential core and source areas in a 162,300-km2 study area centered on the current range of Yellowstone’s grizzly bears (about 37,600 km2). We modeled habitat productivity based on habitat types defined by differences in grizzly bear foraging behavior and associated coefficients of productivity. We coupled habitat productivity with a previously […]
Dispersal Movements by Subadult American Black Bears in Virginia
Dispersal plays an important role in the population dynamics of large carnivores; however, dispersal by subadult American black bears (Ursus americanus) is poorly understood in Virginia, as well as in North America. Thus, during 1999-2002, we studied the movements of 31 (11M:20F) subadult black bears born on 2 study areas in western Virginia and 70 […]
Denning Ecology of Brown Bears and Asiatic Black Bears in the Russian Far East
We observed differences in den types, den site characteristics, and chronology of denning between radiocollared brown bears (Ursus arctos) and Asiatic black bears (U. thibetanus) on and near the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik in the Russian Far East during 1993-2002. Of 27 Asiatic black bear dens, 17 (63%) were in hollow trees, 6 (22%) in ground […]
Effects of Hunting on Brown Bear Cub Survival and Litter Size in Alaska
We present data from 4 studies of radiomarked brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Alaska to evaluate the effects of hunting and differential removal of males on cub survival and litter size. In the Susitna area in southcentral Alaska, the proportion of males declined during a period of increasing hunting pressure (1980-96). Cub survivorship was higher […]
