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1994.9--363-363.pdf | Download |
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From June 1989 to November 1991 movements of radio-collared female black bears were monitored in the boreal forest of northern Ontario. Bears emerged from dens from mid to late April, then occupied a summer range that included the denning site until late July to early August. Summer home ranges overlapped extensively in this high-density (0.6 bears/km2) population. Bears moved to late-summer foraging areas where blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), bristly sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida), and Mountain ash (Sorbus spp.) were abundant. These areas had been clear cut from 2 to 10 years previously. Distance moved to these foraging areas varied from 5 to 104 km and most bears returned to the same general area in consecutive years. Most bears returned to their summer ranges between early September and early October and entered dens from late September to early November. Preliminary results indicate that open areas created by timber harvesting are important latesummer/fall foraging areas for black bears in the boreal forest at least up to 10 years after timber harvesting.