Comparative Weight Loss in Three Species of Ursids under Simulated Denning Conditions

January 1, 1990

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Captive animals were used to conduct 3 simulated denning experiments on each North American Ursid species. One polar bear was studied in its natural maternity den. Initial weight of the study animals ranged from 70 to 285 kg (±1 kg). Although the initial weight between black and grizzly bears and between grizzly and polar bears overlapped, the results provide evidence of a species-specific rate of weight loss. The average body weight loss per day of all of the study animals ranged from 0.18 to 0.91 kg. The present data combined with previously reported information on metabolic rates are used to calculate the caloric equivalent of weight loss. These calculations indicate that polar bears may have preferential protein catabolism and/or elevated water loss during denning.

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