Management Strategies for Florida Black Bears Based on Home Range Habitat Composition

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Florida black bears (Ursus americanus) were radio-monitored from October 1976 through July 1978. Composite home range of 11 animals was evaluated to identify important habitat components in the Osceola National Forest (ONF), Florida. Large swamp systems and surrounding pine flatwood communities were major components of bear habitat. The composite home range, which covered 49% (303 km2) of ONF, included 7.5 of the 10 major swamps. Pine forest cover/stand types accounted for 60% of the composite home range. The composite home range also included 60% (19,003 ha) of forest stand types classified as sawtimber and 35.5% (6,946 ha) classified as poletimber in ONF. Preservation and restoration of the interconnectivity of large swamps and forested upland buffers surrounding these swamps, and maintaining longer timber rotation would encourage bear use and reduce the vulnerability of bears to overharvest.