Seasonal Nutrition of Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Eagle, Thomas C.; Pelton, Michael R.

doi:10.2307/3872524

Cited by 53 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In addition the requirements of a bear in the wild would be much higher, depending mainly on their nutritional requirements, seasonality, age, sexual maturity. However Eagle & Pelton (1983) shows that the consumption of small volumes of different species of animals could compensate the nutritional requirements, as well as providing some essential aminoacids. Probably the bear would hunt occasionally some large vertebrates to offset their protein requirements; on the other hand Dierenfeld (1989) cit.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small vertebrates in the spectacled bear’s diet (Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier, 1825) in the north of Peru

et al. 2016

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Se han realizado numerosos estudios acerca de la dieta del oso andino, sin embargo poco se conoce sobre los pequeños vertebrados que consume. El presente trabajo da a conocer nueve especies de vertebrados (siete roedores y dos aves) como presas del oso andino, por medio del análisis de seis fecas provenientes de dos localidades Upa (Amazonas) y Lagunas Arreviatadas (Cajamarca) en el norte de Perú. Seis de estos registros son nuevos ítems alimenticios y una nueva familia Caviidae. Tan solo en la localidad de Upa se encontraron restos de vertebrados. Adicionalmente los pequeños mamíferos no voladores fueron muestreados en esa localidad. Nuestros resultados sugieren que el oso andino sería una especie generalista, si bien puede tener preferencias en la ingesta de plantas, en el caso de los vertebrados pareciera consumirlos según los encuentra en el ambiente.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small vertebrates in the spectacled bear’s diet (Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier, 1825) in the north of Peru

et al. 2016

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“…In the later summer and fall when food is abundant, black bears become obese because of hyperphagia, acquiring the energy reserves required for denning through the winter. Black bear foods are small, particuiate, numerous and patchily distributed, requiring extensive time to collect and to consume; they spend up to 18 hr/day foraging for insects, roots, corms, fruit and small animal prey (Eagle and Pelton, 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in stereotypic pacing in an American black bear Ursus americanus

Carlstead

Seidensticker

1991

Behavioural Processes

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“…Field studies of the natural food habits of free-ranging bears reveal that there are 1) dramatic seasonal shifts in diet that are determined by the availability of plants and to some extent animal prey, and 2) a large variety of food types are consumed [Craighead and Sumner, 1982;Eagle and Pelton, 1983;Graber and White, 1983]. In particular, the reproductive parts of plants (fruits, nuts, berries, acorns) and colonial insects comprise a large portion of black and brown bear diets [Craighead and Mitchel, 1982;Eagle and Pelton, 1983;Graber and White, 1983;Mace and Jonkel, 1986]. Sloth bears are largely insect (mainly termite and ant) and fruit eaters; at least 17 different fruit species have been identified as sloth bear foods [Laurie and Seidensticker, 1977].…”

Section: Bear Diet Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental enrichment for zoo bears

1991

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The high incidence of Stereotypie behaviors in zoo bears (van Keulen-Kromhout: International Zoo Yearbook 18:177-186, 1978) suggests that the environment of these animals lacks essential stimuli for guiding normal behavior. Three experiments investigated ways in which bear husbandry procedures can be altered to promote normal behavior. In experiments 1 and 2, honey-filled logs were given to a sloth (Melursus ursinas), American black (Ursus americanus), and brown bear (Ursus arctos) to determine 1) the role of food in stimulating investigatory behavior, 2) the rate of habituation to manipulable objects introduced into the exhibit, and 3) effects on locomotory behaviors. Results show specific and general habituation to the introduced objects that can be counteracted by refilling the logs with honey and by providing multiple logs in the exhibit. Investigatory activity directed toward honey-logs replaces pacing and walking in the sloth bear and is most effective in doing so when the log is novel. Experiment 3 examined the behavioral effects of feeding an American black bear in three different ways: 1) once daily in the den, 2) once daily with supplemental food from a mechanical feeder, and 3) once daily with food hidden in the exhibit in manipulatable objects. The latter method reduced Stereotypie pacing from a median of 150 min/day to 20 min/day ; the mechanical feeder method had no such effect. The results of a survey of 67 zoos concerning the diet and manner of feeding these three species of bears, as well as Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are presented. Results are discussed with respect to the ways in which husbandry procedures can be improved to stimulate functional foraging and feeding behavior in confined bears.

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Seasonal Nutrition of Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cited by 53 publications

References 9 publications

Small vertebrates in the spectacled bear’s diet (Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier, 1825) in the north of Peru

Small vertebrates in the spectacled bear’s diet (Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier, 1825) in the north of Peru

Seasonal variation in stereotypic pacing in an American black bear Ursus americanus

Environmental enrichment for zoo bears

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