Survival and Reproduction of Translocated Virginia Black Bears

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Since 1987, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has translocated 221 nuisance black bears (Ursus americanus) from the periphery of Shenandoah National Park in northwestern Virginia to southwestern Virginia in an attempt to reestablish a viable bear population in southwestern Virginia. Forty-three bears released in 1990 and 1991 were radiocollared and monitored from June 1990 to March 1992 to determine the fates and demographic parameters of the translocated bears. Nineteen of the 43 bears died during the study, radio contact was lost with 10, 2 dropped their radiocollars, 1 resumed nuisance activity and was recaptured; the remaining 11 bears were alive when the study ended. Estimated survival was 0.23; male and female survival rates were similar (P = 0.385). Automobile collisions were the major cause of mortality for both male and female bears. Reproduction was observed in 1 den in the 1990-91 denning season and in 4 dens in the 1991-92 season. No translocated bears returned to the original capture sites.