Den Selection by Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Pelton, Michael R.; Beeman, Larry E.; Eagar, Daniel Calhoun

doi:10.2307/3872859

Cited by 22 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Bromlei (1965) and Yudin (1993) came to similar conclusions in the Russian Far East, and such behavior is also noted for American black bear in the southeastern part of their range (Landers et al 1979 ;Pelton et al 1980 ;Johnson and Pelton 1981;Smith 1986;Wathen et al 1986;Weaver and Pelton 1994). Other observations in NJA corroborate our conclusions.…”

Section: Den Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Tree dens with elevated entrances offer more seclusion to American black bears and bears are less likely to run from such dens than from other dens (Pelton et al 1980 ;Smith 1986). We feel this also applies to Asiatic black bears because male 1 did not leave, even though he reacted aggressively to the light we inserted in his den.…”

Section: Response To Researcher Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…However, elevated tree dens might offer better protection from the weather (Thorkelson and Maxwell 1974;Johnson et al 1978;Johnson and Pelton 1981 ;Hayes 1990), from flooding (Landers et al 1979;Johnson and Pelton 1981;Alt 1984a;Smith 1986;Schwartz et al 1987;Smith et al 1994), and from predators, including other bears, wolves (Canis lupus), and man (Landers et al 1979 ;Rogers and Mech 1981 ;Alt 1984b;Paquet and Carbyn 1986;Elowe and Dodge 1989;Hellgren and Vaughan 1989). Consequently, tree dens with elevated entrances might increase the reproductive fitness of American black bears (Johnson et al 1978;Pelton et al 1980;Johnson and Pelton 1981). We did not witness any flooding of ground dens in our study areas.…”

Section: Den Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Denning ecology of two populations of Asiatic black bears in Nagano prefecture, Japan

Huygens¹,

Goto²,

Izumiyama³

et al. 2001

Mamm

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We investigated dens, denning chronology, and behavior in dens of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in 2 neighboring study areas in central Nagano prefecture, central Japan. In the first area, which had been only partially affected by logging, 3 out of 4 dens were in hollow trees with elevated entrances. In the second area, which had been 100 % affected by logging and where virtually all hollow trees had been removed, 6 out of 6 dens were ground dens. An additional 72 dens of radiocollared bears were in areas we were unable to access due to a combination of steep terrain, deep snow, and distance from roads. The denning period was approximately 5 months, from late November-early December till late April-early May. No bear in a tree den with an elevated entrance left its den during our visits. Females without cubs left their ground dens when visited in December and in April. Females with or without cubs stayed in their ground dens when visited in mid-winter. Females with cubs stayed in their dens when visited in April. Our findings suggest Asiatic black bears in central Nagano prefecture prefer to den in hollow trees with elevated entrances. Forest managers should protect and allow for the recruitment of den trees, as well as assure the seclusion of hibernating bears by limiting access roads in denning areas.Resume. -Nous avons etudie les tanieres, la chronologic de hibernation, et le comportement dans les tanieres, de Tours noir asiatique (Ursus thibetanus) dans 2 regions voisines du centre du departement de Nagano, au centre du Japon. Dans la premiere region, qui n'avait que partiellement ete affectee par Tindustrie forestiere, 3 tanieres sur 4 etaient dans des arbres creux avec des entrees elevees. Dans la deuxieme region, qui avait ete ä 100 % affectee par Industrie forestiere et oü presque tous les arbres creux avaient ete detruits, 6 tanieres sur 6 etaient au sol. Soixante-douze autres tanieres d'ours equipes de radio-emetteurs etaient dans des endroits oü nous ne pouvions pas aller du fait du terrain tres pentu, de la neige, et de la distance les separant des routes d'acces. La periode d'hibernation etait d'environ 5 mois, de fin novembre-debut Mammalia, I. 65, n° 4, 2001: 417-428. Brought to you by | University of Arizona Authenticated Download Date | 6/1/15 11:06 PM 418 MAMMALIA decembre ä fin avril-debut mai. Aucun ours hibernant dans un arbre creux avec une entree elevee n'a abandonne sa taniere pendant nos visites. Les femelles sans oursons abandonnaient leurs tanieres au sol quand nous les derangions en decembre ou en avril. Les femelles avec ou sans oursons restaient dans leurs tanieres au sol quand nous les derangions au milieu de hiver. Les ourses avec oursons restaient dans leurs tanieres au sol quand nous les derangions en avril. Nos resultats suggerent que les ours noirs asiatiques du centre du departement de Nagano preferent hiberner dans des arbres creux avec des entrees elevees. Les services forestiers doivent proteger et assurer la conservation des arbres creux, ainsi qu'assurer l'iso...

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Section: Den Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Response To Researcher Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Den Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Denning ecology of two populations of Asiatic black bears in Nagano prefecture, Japan

Huygens¹,

Goto²,

Izumiyama³

et al. 2001

Mamm

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“…Hibernation in Black Bears is an energy-conserving strategy used to survive winter periods when food is limited and ambient temperatures unfavorable for efficient thermoregulation (Johnson et al 1978;Johnson and Pelton 1980;Pelton et al 1980;Johnson and Pelton 1981). The survival value of winter dormancy is particularly evident for Black Bears because their foraging efficiency is closely tied to seasonal plant cycles (Ewer 1973).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Bear, <em>Ursus americanus</em>, Denning Chronology and Den Site Selection in the Northeastern Cascades of Washington

Gaines

2003

Can Field Nat

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I studied Black Bear denning chronology and den site selection during 1995-1998 in the northeastern Cascade Mountains of Washington. Male Black Bears entered dens between 22 October and 19 November and emerged between 4 April and 7 May. Females entered dens somewhat sooner, between 15 October and 19 November, and emerged later than males, 4 April and 22 May. These den entry and emergence dates were similar to those reported at similar lattitudes in northwestern Montana. Roads had an important influence on den site selection by Black Bears in this study area. Bears selected dens in areas with no open roads >200 ha in size, >500 m from the nearest open road, and 1500-2000 m in elevation. The combination of information on denning chronology and site characterstics should allow managers to coordinate human activities to reduce the potential for disturbance to denning Black Bears.

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“…The amount of protection and insulation provided by a den may vary depending on the den type and differences potentially influence the amount of heat loss and vulnerability to disturbances, thereby potentially affecting the bears’ survival and reproduction [20, 21, 22]. Enclosed dens, such as tree or rock cavities and excavated dens, offer protection and insulation from inclement weather [1, 2, 20, 23] and thus are likely to be preferred by bears. Especially in excavated dens, which can be adjusted by an individual in relation to its body size, radiant heat from the soil and metabolic heat from the bear can be trapped within the den and keep the den temperature higher than the ambient temperature [6, 24, 25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Room without a view – den construction in relation to body size in brown bears

Shiratsuru

Friebe²,

et al. 2019

Preprint

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1 2 3 4 Room without a view -den construction in relation to body size in brown bears. 5 6 7 8 Abstract 29 Hibernation is an adaptive strategy to survive harsh winter conditions and food shortage.30 The use of well-insulated winter dens helps animals minimize energy loss during 31 hibernation. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) commonly use excavated dens for hibernation.32 Physical properties of excavated dens, such as the amount of space between a bear and the 33 inner wall, wall/roof thickness, and bedding materials, are expected to impact heat retention 34 and energy conservation of bears. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of 35 physical properties of excavated dens on energy conservation in hibernating bears. Our 36 hypothesis was that bears excavate dens in a way to minimize heat loss and optimize 37 energy conservation during hibernation. We predicted that physical properties of excavated 38 dens would significantly affect the bears' post-hibernation body condition. To test our 39 hypothesis and prediction, we analyzed data collected from brown bears in Sweden with 40 linear mixed effects models, examining (i) what factors affect den-excavation behavior and 41 (ii) if physical properties of excavated dens affect post-hibernation body condition. We 42 found that bears excavated a den cavity in relation to their body size, that older bears 43 tended to excavate better-fitting den cavities compared to young bears, and that the physical 44 properties of excavated dens did not significantly affect a bears' post-hibernation body 45 condition. Older bears excavated better-fitting den cavities, suggesting a potentially 46 experience-based shift with age in den-excavation behavior and an optimum cavity size 47 relative to a bear's body size. The strong year effect shown by the most parsimonious 48 model for post-hibernation body condition suggests that variations in physical properties of 49 excavated dens are possibly negligible, compared to the large annual variations in bioticPage 3 50 and abiotic factors affecting pre-hibernation body condition and heat loss during 51 hibernation. 52 53 Key words: body condition, brown bear, den excavation behavior, den, energy 54 conservation, hibernation, Ursus arctos, 55 Page 4 56 Introduction 57 Hibernation is a physiological and behavioral adaptation through which animals 58 survive harsh seasonal conditions, such as inclement weather or low food availability, by 59 minimizing energy loss [1-3]. Small mammalian hibernators, such as arctic ground 60 squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) and Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota), decrease their 61 body temperatures to around 0 C or even lower during hibernation to overcome their high 62 mass-specific metabolic rates and low amount of body fat stores. On the other hand, large 63 mammalian hibernators with large amount of body fat stores, such as brown bears (Ursus 64 arctos) and American black bears (U. americanus), decrease metabolic rates while 65 maintaining relatively high body temperatures [4-5]. 66 Most brown bears an...

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Den Selection by Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cited by 22 publications

References 4 publications

Denning ecology of two populations of Asiatic black bears in Nagano prefecture, Japan

Denning ecology of two populations of Asiatic black bears in Nagano prefecture, Japan

Black Bear, <em>Ursus americanus</em>, Denning Chronology and Den Site Selection in the Northeastern Cascades of Washington

Room without a view – den construction in relation to body size in brown bears

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