Molecular evaluation of American black bear prey consumption following diversionary feeding
Although diversionary feeding has been used as a management strategy to limit problem bear behaviors or reduce human-wildlife conflict, the underlying mechanisms determining the success or failure of diversionary feeding programs are infrequently assessed. Further, molecular methods, commonly applied in wildlife research, have not been used to examine diet composition of target species in response […]
Spatial distribution of the threatened Asiatic black bear in northern Pakistan
The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is globally listed as ‘Vulnerable.’ Here, we documented its current distribution and the human-bear conflict in Machiara National Park (MNP, northern Pakistan) from 2009 to 2013. Our observations indicated that this bear occurs in all areas of MNP, especially at elevations between 1,600 and 3,300 m above sea level. […]
An Andean bear population hotspot in Northern Peru
Peru is probably home to the largest population of Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus; Peyton 1999); however, no studies have assessed the density and ecology of the species in this region in the past 20 years. Population density estimates are a cornerstone of species conservation because they help guide decision-making and monitoring of species trends. Here, […]
Relationship between diet and occurrence around human settlements in Asiatic black bears
Increased occurrences of bears in human settlements in search of food have led to a high incidence of human-bear interactions in Japan; therefore, a better understanding of bear occurrence in relation to bears’ diet is required to establish effective management practices. In this study, we investigated the composition of the diet of Asiatic black bears […]
Food caching by bears: A literature review and new observations for Asiatic and American black bears
Food caching is a common behavior for many mammals, but less is known about the prevalence and importance of food caching for some species. Here we report the first documented caching events by Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus, n = 5) in Japan and 3 additional caching events by American black bears (U. americanus) in […]
Behavior of the European brown bear at rub trees
The rubbing of trees by bears is an example of scent-marking that has been studied only in a limited number of bear species in the world. Our study analyzes the marking behavior of the European brown bear (Ursus arctos), based on filming by remote cameras placed in front of 25 rub trees in the central […]
Polar bear behavioral response to vessel surveys in northeastern Chukchi Sea, 2008-2014
Evaluating the impacts of anthropogenic activities on Arctic wildlife is a key issue in current management and conservation strategies. With global climate change, expanding shipping routes, and increasing industrial development in the Arctic, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) faces new challenges to its survival. Polar bear behavioral response to vessel presence is not well-documented. During […]
Burying of dead cubs by a brown bear in Greece: Food caching or ‘grief’ behavior?
Understanding animal behavior is essential for the conservation of endangered species. We document the case of a female brown bear (Ursus arctos) burying her 2 cubs-of-the-year, following their death in a car accident in May 2020 in the Prefecture of Kastoria, northern Greece. Both cubs were partially buried, half-covered with earth in an open field. […]
A model to predict the occurrence of Asiatic black bears at the municipal level using mast production data
This study analyzed how 3 Fagaceae species (Fagus crenata, Quercus crispula, and Q. serrata) affect the occurrence of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in and around residential areas from generalized linear mixed models based on monitoring data of bear occurrence and masting over 14 years (2005-2018) in municipalities in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The constructed models […]
Improving estimates of body mass in American black bears using morphometrics and non-linear models
Measuring the body mass of American black bears (Ursus americanus) can be challenging because of their large size, and if equipment to weigh individuals is undersupplied. Our purpose was to estimate body mass of Florida black bears (U. a. floridanus) by developing models (linear and non-linear) that use morphometrics that can be reasonably easy to […]
