We are pleased to share these recent Ursus articles with you. Thanks to the support of subscribing institutions and the global library community, the BioOne Subscribe to Open (S2O) threshold has been reached, making all Ursus articles open access for 2026. This milestone represents a significant step forward in making research accessible to everyone. Read the announcement from BioOne.
Perspectives on the design and execution of DNA-based inventories for bears using hair sampling
Garth Mowat
Ursus 2026 (37e11), 1-21, (28 July 2026). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-25-00015
KEYWORDS: DNA, inventory, noninvasive sampling, population monitoring, SECR, spatial capture–recapture, STUDY DESIGN, survey
I review 3 decades of experience involving DNA-based sampling for bear (Ursus spp.) inventories and provide some considerations for future users. Some of the less obvious suggestions follow. (1) Do not set baited sites in closed forest; rather, put them in places where wind can move the smell of the bait to a nearby bear. (2) More females and cubs will be detected if you sample later in the year, which will likely improve the accuracy and precision of density or population estimates. (3) Plot a histogram of movement distances to confirm that there are no outliers in the data, which could bias the estimate of range size and generate underestimates of density. (4) Use spatial capture–recapture methods to analyze your data. Spatial methods allow for clustered sampling designs that require less field effort and allow empirical extrapolation to areas that were not sampled, which can inform management decisions at the scale decisions are made. (5) Consider the spatial covariates before the fieldwork to ensure field sampling captures the range of spatial variation in these variables. (6) DNA-based sampling can be a particularly efficient way to monitor population trend because passive rub sites are largely permanent and can be used year after year; rub sites can be established by the user; sampling rub sites can be done with volunteers to reduce field costs; and the sampling intensity for a long-term inventory can be modest and still yield useful inference.
Managing feeding behavior shifts of sloth bears in human-dominated areas through collaborative conservation
Nisha Prajapati, Sarthak Chaudhary, Pratikkumar Desai, Suresh Chovatiya, Vishnu Desai, Nishith Dharaiya
Ursus 2026 (37e12), 1-6, (28 July 2026). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-25-00004R1
KEYWORDS: anthropogenic food, Conservation action, diet, foraging behavior, Melursus ursinus, myrmecophagy, Plastic, scats
Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are primarily myrmecophagous but have adapted to consuming human-induced food in disturbed habitats. This study reveals how cross-sector collaboration and education may help to reduce sloth bear visits in human-dominated areas. We describe 3 cases of regular sloth bear movement in villages of central Gujarat, India, during October to December 2024, wherein we conducted field surveys, camera-trapping, and scat analysis to determine the reasons for their visits. Bears consuming discarded food waste suggest a shift in natural foraging behavior, which increases the risk of gastrointestinal blockages, malnutrition, and disrupted foraging patterns, possibly escalating human–wildlife conflicts. Our joint effort with forest department and local community had immediate results and reduced sloth bear movement in these areas. This study highlights the need for better waste management in villages near wildlife habitats. Community awareness is vital for long-term conservation, promoting coexistence, and minimizing human-induced risks to wildlife.
Identification of black and brown bear skulls by tooth morphology
Zdenek Novak, Anna Zelena Kubatova
Ursus 2026 (37e13), 1-8, (12 August 2026). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-25-00005R1
KEYWORDS: bear identification, dentition, skull morphology, species determination, tooth morphology, Ursus americanus, Ursus arctos, wildlife trade
Skulls of American black bears (ABB, Ursus americanus) and brown bears (BRB, U. arctos) can be very similar, and their sizes overlap. Methods to distinguish the skulls of these two species were developed but none proved reliable and easily applicable in the field. This study examined the presence versus absence of the accessory cusps in the skulls of 71 BRB and 41 ABB. The following results were obtained from skulls with ≥1 evaluable m1: accessory cusp was detected in 98.1% of BRB, and the absence of accessory cusp was confirmed in 100% of ABB. We recommend accompanying this method with the gross assessment of the ratio of the length of the facial region and the braincase of the skull. The facial region of ABB is usually shorter than the braincase; whereas in BRB, the braincase is longer than the facial region or they are equal in size.