Spring Feeding on Ungulate Carcasses by Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Green, Gerald I.; Mattson, David J.; Peek, James M.

doi:10.2307/3802101

Cited by 80 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The techniques used to study the diets of carnivores can be divided into three: (1) direct observation of feeding, foraging, and hunting (Murie 1985; Schaller 1972); (2) feeding site surveys, including examination of prey or carrion remains (Green et al 1997;Mech 1966;Smith et al 2004); and (3) analysis of post-ingestion samples from stomach content (Cuesta et al 1991;Taylor 1964) or feces (Kohn and Wayne 1997;Putman 1984). Scat analysis, which is based mainly on identification of mammalian hairs, is a valuable technique since most prey species can be reliably determined, field collection is rapid, and the scats can be stored and processed at a convenient time and the costs are low.…”

Section: Scat Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Peri-urban spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Northern Ethiopia: diet, economic impact, and abundance

et al. 2010

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Global declines of carnivores are related to difficult integration with human land use, in particular conflicts caused by livestock depredation. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) live in remarkably close proximity to humans in the degraded and prey-depleted Enderta district, northern Ethiopia. Their diet and interaction with people were investigated in sub-districts close to the regional capital, Mekelle. We interviewed 1,686 randomly selected households from three sub-districts, Debri, Aynalem, and Felege Selam, about livestock management and incidence of depredation from 2005 to 2009. Livestock loss amounted to 492 heads over 5 years; an annual mean of 0.6% worth US$ 7,042. We also performed a survey giving a minimum population estimate of 60 hyenas in the three sub-districts; all but four were found in church forests where they are traditionally tolerated and protected. A total of 1,200 hyena scats were analyzed to determine prey species; the diet contained only domestic species, with sheep being by far the most common prey species. About 5.5% of fecal analysis contained human hairs. We conclude that hyenas depended entirely on domestic prey species, partly through depredation but more importantly through scavenging on (peri-) urban waste. Under the particular local circumstances, continued coexistence appears possible, provided that damage remains tolerable.

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Section: Scat Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Peri-urban spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Northern Ethiopia: diet, economic impact, and abundance

et al. 2010

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“…There was, however, considerable individual variation in meat consumption. The use of ungulates by grizzly bears has been widely demonstrated (Servheen 1983;Reynolds and Garner 1987;Boertje et al 1988;Larsen et al 1989;Ballard et al 1991;Schwarz and Franzmann 1991;Gasaway et al 1992;Green et al 1997;Mattson 1997;Young and McCabe 1997). I was able to demonstrate seasonal variation in ungulate resources in the diets of grizzly bears based on the assumption that hair from bears in good condition has a constant growth rate from the onset of molt in spring until the fall (C.T.…”

Section: Grizzly Bearsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Grizzly bears (U. arctos) are known both as terrestrial scavengers and predators (Green et al 1997;Mattson 1997). Predation by both black (U. americanus) and grizzly bears on ungulate calves potentially can regulate ungulate populations at low densities (Reynolds and Garner 1987;Boertje, et al 1988;Larsen et al 1989;Ballard et al 1991;Schwarz and Franzmann 1991;Gasaway et al 1992).…”

Section: And In Yukon (Hayes and Harestad 2000)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining the predator landscape of northeastern British Columbia.

Milakovic¹

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“…Thus, in evaluating which time-frame is most realistic, and indeed whether full occupancy of the southern GYE is possible, we suspect that grizzly expansion will continue to be most affected by factors that are almost entirely in the human domain: fragmentation of landscapes by human development and rates of lethal contact with humans (factors 4 and 5, above). The likelihood that other factors will limit expansion is possible, but these may be mitigated through the occupancy of different habitats by bears (Mattson & Merrill, 2002) and by the generalist nature of bear foraging Green, Mattson & Peek, 1997;Mattson, 1997b;Hildebrandt et al, 1999;Jacoby et al, 1999). The possibility that expansion patterns change when humans interact with these other factors should not be discounted (Schwartz, 2001), as illustrated by the increase in mortality levels around human settlements during declines in the seed crops of white bark pine (Pinus albicaulis), during the ungulate hunting seasons , or when bear movements are altered due to wildfire (Blanchard & Knight, 1990).…”

Section: Rates Of Grizzly Expansion and Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carnivore re‐colonisation: reality, possibility and a non‐equilibrium century for grizzly bears in the southern Yellowstone ecosystem

Pyare¹,

Cain²,

Moody³

et al. 2004

Animal Conservation

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Most large native carnivores have experienced range contractions due to conflicts with humans, although neither rates of spatial collapse nor expansion have been well characterised. In North America, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) once ranged from Mexico northward to Alaska, however its range in the continental USA has been reduced by 95-98%. Under the U. S. Endangered Species Act, the Yellowstone grizzly bear population has re-colonised habitats outside Yellowstone National Park. We analysed historical and current records, including data on radio-collared bears, (1) to evaluate changes in grizzly bear distribution in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) over a 100-year period, (2) to utilise historical rates of re-colonisation to project future expansion trends and (3) to evaluate the reality of future expansion based on human limitations and land use. Analysis of distribution in 20-year increments reflects range reduction from south to north and expansion to the south . Expansion was exponential and the area occupied by grizzly bears doubled approximately every 20 years. A complementary analysis of bear occurrence in Grand Teton National Park also suggests an unprecedented period of rapid expansion during the last 20-30 years. The grizzly bear population currently has re-occupied about 50% of the southern GYE. Based on assumptions of continued protection and ecological stasis, our model suggests total occupancy in 25 years. Alternatively, extrapolation of linear expansion rates from the period prior to protection suggests total occupancy could take > 100 years. Analyses of historical trends can be useful as a restoration tool because they enable a framework and timeline to be constructed to pre-emptively address the social challenges affecting future carnivore recovery.

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Spring Feeding on Ungulate Carcasses by Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Cited by 80 publications

References 27 publications

Peri-urban spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Northern Ethiopia: diet, economic impact, and abundance

Peri-urban spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Northern Ethiopia: diet, economic impact, and abundance

Defining the predator landscape of northeastern British Columbia.

Carnivore re‐colonisation: reality, possibility and a non‐equilibrium century for grizzly bears in the southern Yellowstone ecosystem

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