A total of 68 black bear (Ursus americanus) dens were located by radio-tracking 27 radio-instrumented animals from October 1974 through May 1979. Regardless of mild weather conditions and year-around availability of food, all bears denned. Duration of denning varied with sex and age class but averaged 4 to 5 months. Ninety-one percent of the dens studied were located in the Interior Chaparral vegetation type. Site selection appeared to be based on a combination of dense vegetative cover at bear height (0.3-1.8 m) and early development of spring forage. All dens were located under large rocks. Den sites appeared to abundant, with most bears preparing numerous dens. Only 6% of our bears reused dens. Den sites of adult animals appeared to be within normal home range areas. Because of the ready availability of den sites, plans for conversion of chaparral areas to grassland should limit neither bear den sites nor bear populations.
- Volume 5
- Issue
- Pages 71-78
- Publication Date 1 January 1983
- DOI 10.2307/3872521
- File Size 346.47 KB
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