The spatial distribution of American black bear-human interactions in Virginia, USA
American black bear (Ursus americanus; hereafter, black bear) populations in Virginia, USA, have been recovering from near extirpation for the past century. The expansion of both human and bear populations has coincided with an increase in human-black bear interactions. Mitigating human-black bear problems is a management priority of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland […]
Characteristics of sun bear chest marks and their patterns of individual variation
Animal coloration is widely involved in a variety of social interactions, and mammals can convey information to conspecifics by visual signals, such as colored or contrasting body marks. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) has a vibrant and unusual chest mark. Here, we describe the characteristics of sun bear chest marks and their patterns of individual […]
Evidence for historical grizzly bear occurrence in the North Cascades, USA
The North Cascades ecosystem of north-central Washington State (USA) and southern British Columbia, Canada, has been identified as 1 of 6 recovery zones for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) that were at one time distributed across a nearly continuous range of western North America. The current small number of grizzly bears, along with an apparent scarcity […]
An evaluation of noninvasive sampling techniques for Malayan sun bears
Traditional mark-recapture studies to estimate abundance and trends of Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) populations are impeded by logistics of live-trapping wild individuals. The development of noninvasive sampling techniques for monitoring sun bear populations is therefore crucial for targeted conservation action. Sun bears have short fur, and conventional hair-snagging devices are ineffective. Moreover, scats are […]
From worship to subjugation: Understanding stories about bears to inform conservation efforts
Throughout history and across their geographic distribution, bear species (Ursidae) have been portrayed and valued for their beauty, physical power, or ecological significance, while concurrently disliked and feared for their ferocity, negative economic impacts, and safety risks they can pose to people. How bear species are depicted in stories-including myths, legends, fables, or tales-can influence […]
Preliminary icebreaker-based survey of polar bears around Franz Josef Land, Russia
As a Vulnerable species, regular estimates of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) numbers are an important requirement for understanding population status. In the Russian part of the Barents Sea subpopulation, near the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, counts of polar bears have not been conducted since 2004. We observed polar bears from icebreakers in this area in […]
The role of spring temperatures in the den exit of female brown bears with cubs in southwestern Europe
Hibernation represents the most refined adaptation of endothermic species to overcome unfavorable periods when food is scarce. Thus, hibernation should take place within specific time frames with respect to environmental factors. Flexibility in the timing of biological events is thus central to how well mammals can deal with varying climatic conditions. For brown bears (Ursus […]
Seasonal variation in the diet of sloth bears in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
We studied seasonal variation in food habits of sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) in the humandominated buffer zone of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India, during 2017 and 2018. We analyzed 109 sloth bear scats from summer and 103 from winter to characterize the seasonal variation in food habits. We used the Index of Relative […]
An open-access occurrence database for Andean bears in Peru
The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; however, the lack of knowledge regarding different aspects of its ecology, biogeography, and abundance hinders the conservation efforts of researchers and managers. To address the high cost of acquiring information and the lack of systematized data, […]
Diet of Andean bears in Tamá National Natural Park, Colombia
Diet is among the most important and basic ecological aspects of a species. Information on diet composition, seasonality, and spatial variation is necessary for adequate ecological understanding and therefore conservation. Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) have been poorly studied across their distribution, and especially in Colombia; therefore, most ecological aspects remain unknown. The objective of this […]
