Population Characteristics of the Japanese Black Bear in Hakusan National Park, Japan

January 1, 1980

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A population study of the Japanese black bears (Selenarctos thibetanus japonicus) harvested by the traditional hunting method was initiated in 1970 in Hakusan National Park and vicinity, central Japan. The hunting season lasts about 40 days from early April until early May during a time of heavy snow cover. A total of 265 bears were killed from 1970 to 1976 and 88 skulls were available for age determination. Their average age was 6.64 years (SD = 5.38 years), and younger bears (1-6 years old) made up approximately 65 percent of the sample. The sex ratio did not significantly differ from 50:50. Age structure and sex ratio are likely to be biased because of the lesser vulnerability of females with cubs to hunting.

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