Causes of Black Bear Cub Mortality

January 1, 1987

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From 1982 to 1985, 23 Arizona black bear (Ursus americanus) cubs were equipped with motion-sensitive, breakaway radiocollars while in winter dens. Eleven (48%) of these cubs died, but cause of death was determined in only 8 cases because of collar loss. Fifty percent of these deaths were the result of cannibalism by other bears. Other causes of mortality included other predation, disease, and hunting. The majority of cub deaths occurred within 60 days of den emergence; only 1 cub dying of natural causes lived beyond the end of the May-June breeding season. Seven of 13 individual litters (54%) containing radio-collared cubs experienced mortality, and in 6 of those cases (86%), the total litter died. In this population, hunter-caused mortality appeared to be additive rather than compensatory.

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