Pub Date : 2022-07-08DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00013.2
R. E. Urbanek, Michael N. Gillikin, Colleen Olfenbuttel, Casey G. Dukes
Abstract: Scant information regarding the fate of rehabilitated American black bears (Ursus americanus) postrelease exists in the literature. We estimated survival of 28 rehabilitated bears that were released between 2015 and 2018 in North Carolina, USA, and investigated what biological, landscape, and behavioral factors influenced their survival in their first year postrelease. Sixty-one percent of the bears died within 1 year and 65% of the mortalities were from legal hunter harvest. Bear survival declined rapidly with increasing road density. Few mortalities were attributed to vehicular incidents; therefore, road density likely acts as proxy to hunting accessibility, especially in rural areas. Home ranges of bears in our study included 0–11% development and we estimated our bears had a 90% survival rate within their first year postrelease if their home range included 6–11% of developed land. In urban areas, ordinances and small parcels tend to restrict the opportunity for hunting, which may create a refugia for some black bears. Our results also indicate that female rehabilitated bears may be more susceptible to hunting pressures than are wild females. Release weight had a positive effect on survival; heavier bears were likely less attracted to anthropogenic food sources (e.g., crops, bird feeders) that would have made them susceptible to hunters compared with more reliable, natural food sources. Individuals that moved slightly more tortuous paths than average in our study had a lower survival probability, likely from remaining in the same area. We recommend that managers select release sites for bears that limit harvest via accessible roads. We also recommend ensuring 1.25–1.5-year-old bears are ≥71 kg at release to enhance survival probability. Our results add to the growing body of bear rehabilitation research and can inform programs in which rehabilitation is critical to species restoration efforts.
{"title":"Survival of rehabilitated yearling American black bears","authors":"R. E. Urbanek, Michael N. Gillikin, Colleen Olfenbuttel, Casey G. Dukes","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00013.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00013.2","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Scant information regarding the fate of rehabilitated American black bears (Ursus americanus) postrelease exists in the literature. We estimated survival of 28 rehabilitated bears that were released between 2015 and 2018 in North Carolina, USA, and investigated what biological, landscape, and behavioral factors influenced their survival in their first year postrelease. Sixty-one percent of the bears died within 1 year and 65% of the mortalities were from legal hunter harvest. Bear survival declined rapidly with increasing road density. Few mortalities were attributed to vehicular incidents; therefore, road density likely acts as proxy to hunting accessibility, especially in rural areas. Home ranges of bears in our study included 0–11% development and we estimated our bears had a 90% survival rate within their first year postrelease if their home range included 6–11% of developed land. In urban areas, ordinances and small parcels tend to restrict the opportunity for hunting, which may create a refugia for some black bears. Our results also indicate that female rehabilitated bears may be more susceptible to hunting pressures than are wild females. Release weight had a positive effect on survival; heavier bears were likely less attracted to anthropogenic food sources (e.g., crops, bird feeders) that would have made them susceptible to hunters compared with more reliable, natural food sources. Individuals that moved slightly more tortuous paths than average in our study had a lower survival probability, likely from remaining in the same area. We recommend that managers select release sites for bears that limit harvest via accessible roads. We also recommend ensuring 1.25–1.5-year-old bears are ≥71 kg at release to enhance survival probability. Our results add to the growing body of bear rehabilitation research and can inform programs in which rehabilitation is critical to species restoration efforts.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"4 1","pages":"1 - 12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82846919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-06DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00002.2
A. Bhattacharya, N. Chatterjee, Kunal Angrish, Dharamveer Meena, B. Sinha, B. Habib
Abstract: Robust population estimation of rare or elusive threatened species lacking distinct identifiable features poses a challenge in the field of conservation and management. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is one such species. Methodological frameworks—such as radiotelemetry, genetic sampling, and camera-trapping—though crucial and advantageous, sometimes require additional information through invasive methods for individual identification. In this study, we estimated the population density of Asiatic black bear in 2 protected areas in the Indian Himalayan Region without information on individual identification. We conducted the study through a spatial capture–recapture framework using camera traps in the summer during May–July 2018 in Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and May–July 2019 in Rupi Bhaba WLS. Using the recently developed Spatial Presence–Absence model, we estimated g0 (detection probability), σ (scale or movement parameter related to home range of the species), and N (population size) of Asiatic black bears from the camera-trap data using a Bayesian framework. We estimated a population density of 2.5 individuals/100 km2 (95% Credible Interval = 1.42–9.63 individuals/100 km2) from Daranghati WLS and 0.3 individuals/100 km2 (95% Credible Interval = 0.2–0.7 individuals/100 km2) from Rupi Bhaba WLS. Abundance estimates produced by extrapolating these densities were 11 Asiatic black bear individuals (95% Credible Interval = 4–27) from Daranghati WLS and 2 Asiatic black bear individuals (95% Credible Interval = 1–3) from Rupi Bhaba WLS. This is the first population estimate of Asiatic black bear from the Indian Himalaya without individual identification. We recommend that this method, which provides minimal sampling bias and ease of sampling, can be replicated in other mountainous landscapes for a robust density estimation of this species.
{"title":"Population estimation of Asiatic black bear in the Himalayan Region of India using camera traps","authors":"A. Bhattacharya, N. Chatterjee, Kunal Angrish, Dharamveer Meena, B. Sinha, B. Habib","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00002.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00002.2","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Robust population estimation of rare or elusive threatened species lacking distinct identifiable features poses a challenge in the field of conservation and management. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is one such species. Methodological frameworks—such as radiotelemetry, genetic sampling, and camera-trapping—though crucial and advantageous, sometimes require additional information through invasive methods for individual identification. In this study, we estimated the population density of Asiatic black bear in 2 protected areas in the Indian Himalayan Region without information on individual identification. We conducted the study through a spatial capture–recapture framework using camera traps in the summer during May–July 2018 in Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and May–July 2019 in Rupi Bhaba WLS. Using the recently developed Spatial Presence–Absence model, we estimated g0 (detection probability), σ (scale or movement parameter related to home range of the species), and N (population size) of Asiatic black bears from the camera-trap data using a Bayesian framework. We estimated a population density of 2.5 individuals/100 km2 (95% Credible Interval = 1.42–9.63 individuals/100 km2) from Daranghati WLS and 0.3 individuals/100 km2 (95% Credible Interval = 0.2–0.7 individuals/100 km2) from Rupi Bhaba WLS. Abundance estimates produced by extrapolating these densities were 11 Asiatic black bear individuals (95% Credible Interval = 4–27) from Daranghati WLS and 2 Asiatic black bear individuals (95% Credible Interval = 1–3) from Rupi Bhaba WLS. This is the first population estimate of Asiatic black bear from the Indian Himalaya without individual identification. We recommend that this method, which provides minimal sampling bias and ease of sampling, can be replicated in other mountainous landscapes for a robust density estimation of this species.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"16 1","pages":"1 - 10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76704464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-07DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00009.3
Nathaniel R. Bowersock, Hitomi Okada, Andrea R. Litt, K. Gunther, Frank T. van Manen
Abstract: Several of the world's bear species exhibit tree-rubbing behavior, which is thought to be a form of scent-marking communication. Many aspects of this behavior remain unexplored, including differences in rub tree selection between sympatric bear species. We compiled rub tree data collected on Yellowstone National Park's Northern Range (USA) and compared rub tree selection of sympatric American black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (U. arctos) at local and landscape scales. During 2017 and 2018, we identified 217 rub trees and detected black bears at 117 rub trees and grizzly bears at 18 rub trees, based on genetic analysis of collected hair samples. Rub trees generally were located in areas with gentle slopes and close to existing animal trails. Trees selected by black bears were typically in forested areas, whereas trees selected by grizzly bears were in forested and more open areas. Use of rub trees varied seasonally and between sexes for black bears, but seasonal data were inconclusive for grizzly bears. Black bears showed preferences for certain tree species for rubbing, but we did not find evidence that rub tree selection by grizzly bears differed among tree species. Both bear species selected trees that lacked branches on the lower portions of tree trunks and the maximum rub height was consistent with the body length of the bear species that used the tree. Although the sample size for grizzly bears was small, identifying the species and sex of bears based on genetic analysis enhanced interpretation of rub tree use and selection by bears. Scent-marking by black bears and grizzly bears on similar rub objects in well-traversed areas likely serves to enhance communication within and between the 2 species.
{"title":"Rub tree use and selection by American black bears and grizzly bears in northern Yellowstone National Park","authors":"Nathaniel R. Bowersock, Hitomi Okada, Andrea R. Litt, K. Gunther, Frank T. van Manen","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00009.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00009.3","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Several of the world's bear species exhibit tree-rubbing behavior, which is thought to be a form of scent-marking communication. Many aspects of this behavior remain unexplored, including differences in rub tree selection between sympatric bear species. We compiled rub tree data collected on Yellowstone National Park's Northern Range (USA) and compared rub tree selection of sympatric American black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (U. arctos) at local and landscape scales. During 2017 and 2018, we identified 217 rub trees and detected black bears at 117 rub trees and grizzly bears at 18 rub trees, based on genetic analysis of collected hair samples. Rub trees generally were located in areas with gentle slopes and close to existing animal trails. Trees selected by black bears were typically in forested areas, whereas trees selected by grizzly bears were in forested and more open areas. Use of rub trees varied seasonally and between sexes for black bears, but seasonal data were inconclusive for grizzly bears. Black bears showed preferences for certain tree species for rubbing, but we did not find evidence that rub tree selection by grizzly bears differed among tree species. Both bear species selected trees that lacked branches on the lower portions of tree trunks and the maximum rub height was consistent with the body length of the bear species that used the tree. Although the sample size for grizzly bears was small, identifying the species and sex of bears based on genetic analysis enhanced interpretation of rub tree use and selection by bears. Scent-marking by black bears and grizzly bears on similar rub objects in well-traversed areas likely serves to enhance communication within and between the 2 species.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"117 1","pages":"1 - 12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84928311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-05-25DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00020.3
Angela M. Sikes, Christopher J. Katz, K. Hatch
Abstract: We compared location, sex, and season of 97 American black bears (Ursus americanus) captured and sampled from March 2003 to March 2006 near Lakewood and Hiles, Wisconsin, USA, relative to exposure to toxoplasmosis, canine distemper virus (CDV), eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, canine parvovirus, and tularemia. A large percentage of black bears in both locations had antibodies against CDV and toxoplasmosis (41.1–56.9% and 41.8–67.4%, respectively). Exposure of bears to CDV was significantly higher in those sampled during the winter. There was strong evidence that exposure to toxoplasmosis was significantly greater in bears near Hiles than those near Lakewood. There was weak evidence that exposure to tularemia was different in bears near Hiles than those near Lakewood. There was also weak evidence that exposure to tularemia was different in females than males. We found only a small percentage of black bears with detectable antibodies against eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis (2.2–3.8%, 2.2–4.3%, and 0–2.8%, respectively) at both locations. Our results are similar to those of other studies, suggesting that exposure to toxoplasmosis and CDV may be prevalent among black bears across North America. We also draw attention to the need for validation studies for serological tests in black bears, so that accurate measures of sensitivity and specificity of these tests may be provided.
{"title":"Exposure of American black bears to various pathogens in Wisconsin","authors":"Angela M. Sikes, Christopher J. Katz, K. Hatch","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00020.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00020.3","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: We compared location, sex, and season of 97 American black bears (Ursus americanus) captured and sampled from March 2003 to March 2006 near Lakewood and Hiles, Wisconsin, USA, relative to exposure to toxoplasmosis, canine distemper virus (CDV), eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, canine parvovirus, and tularemia. A large percentage of black bears in both locations had antibodies against CDV and toxoplasmosis (41.1–56.9% and 41.8–67.4%, respectively). Exposure of bears to CDV was significantly higher in those sampled during the winter. There was strong evidence that exposure to toxoplasmosis was significantly greater in bears near Hiles than those near Lakewood. There was weak evidence that exposure to tularemia was different in bears near Hiles than those near Lakewood. There was also weak evidence that exposure to tularemia was different in females than males. We found only a small percentage of black bears with detectable antibodies against eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis (2.2–3.8%, 2.2–4.3%, and 0–2.8%, respectively) at both locations. Our results are similar to those of other studies, suggesting that exposure to toxoplasmosis and CDV may be prevalent among black bears across North America. We also draw attention to the need for validation studies for serological tests in black bears, so that accurate measures of sensitivity and specificity of these tests may be provided.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"34 1","pages":"1 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87271491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-05-13DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00013.3
Kazuaki Takahashi, Kaori Takahashi
Abstract: The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is known to use the fruits of various fleshy-fruited plant species as food resources. However, there is no published evidence regarding whether they feed on the berries of 4 ericaceous dwarf shrub species that are widely distributed in alpine regions in Japan (Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Gaultheria pyroloides, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea). We assessed the use of, and preference for, these berries by black bears and identified the production and morphological and nutritional characteristics of these berries in the alpine zone of Mt. Asama, central Japan. Using camera-trap survey and scat analyses between July and November in 2017, 2018, and 2019, we obtained the first evidence that these bears consume large quantities of E. nigrum berries in the alpine zones during the summer. The density of berries per square meter was highest for E. nigrum. By contrast, the cost–benefit ratio of morphological fruit attractiveness (i.e., fresh pulp weight and dry pulp weight divided by total fresh seed weight per fruit), crude protein, crude fat, and nitrogen-free extract levels were lowest in E. nigrum berries. Therefore, fruit use by black bears appeared to be influenced by fruit production rather than the morphological or nutritional value of the fruits. Bears may compensate for this nutritional deficit by consuming large quantities of these berries. Consequently, E. nigrum berries are key food items for black bears in Japan and may compensate for summer food shortages.
{"title":"Alpine ericaceous dwarf shrubs as summer food resources for Asiatic black bears in Japan","authors":"Kazuaki Takahashi, Kaori Takahashi","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00013.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00013.3","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is known to use the fruits of various fleshy-fruited plant species as food resources. However, there is no published evidence regarding whether they feed on the berries of 4 ericaceous dwarf shrub species that are widely distributed in alpine regions in Japan (Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Gaultheria pyroloides, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea). We assessed the use of, and preference for, these berries by black bears and identified the production and morphological and nutritional characteristics of these berries in the alpine zone of Mt. Asama, central Japan. Using camera-trap survey and scat analyses between July and November in 2017, 2018, and 2019, we obtained the first evidence that these bears consume large quantities of E. nigrum berries in the alpine zones during the summer. The density of berries per square meter was highest for E. nigrum. By contrast, the cost–benefit ratio of morphological fruit attractiveness (i.e., fresh pulp weight and dry pulp weight divided by total fresh seed weight per fruit), crude protein, crude fat, and nitrogen-free extract levels were lowest in E. nigrum berries. Therefore, fruit use by black bears appeared to be influenced by fruit production rather than the morphological or nutritional value of the fruits. Bears may compensate for this nutritional deficit by consuming large quantities of these berries. Consequently, E. nigrum berries are key food items for black bears in Japan and may compensate for summer food shortages.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"1 1","pages":"1 - 15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72734636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-24DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00024.1
U. V. Babiy, V. Salomashkina, Pavel S. Kulemeev, M. Kholodova, A. Gruzdev, Eric V. Regehr
Abstract: We report the first photographic and genetic evidence of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) on Wrangel Island, Russia, located north of 71° in the Arctic Ocean. The sequenced control region (D-loop) of mitochondrial DNA obtained from hair of a sighted bear was indistinguishable from one of the most widespread haplotypes of the Eurasian brown bear. Molecular genetic analysis indicated that the bear was male. We photographed what may have been a second brown bear on a remote camera trap. It is unknown whether the bear(s) were transients or indicative of a range expansion associated with warming temperatures. Wrangel Island currently supports muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and several top predators including a high density of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) during the summer and autumn. Thus, the presence of brown bears could lead to novel interspecies interactions with potentially cascading ecological effects.
{"title":"First evidence of a brown bear on Wrangel Island, Russia","authors":"U. V. Babiy, V. Salomashkina, Pavel S. Kulemeev, M. Kholodova, A. Gruzdev, Eric V. Regehr","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00024.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00024.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: We report the first photographic and genetic evidence of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) on Wrangel Island, Russia, located north of 71° in the Arctic Ocean. The sequenced control region (D-loop) of mitochondrial DNA obtained from hair of a sighted bear was indistinguishable from one of the most widespread haplotypes of the Eurasian brown bear. Molecular genetic analysis indicated that the bear was male. We photographed what may have been a second brown bear on a remote camera trap. It is unknown whether the bear(s) were transients or indicative of a range expansion associated with warming temperatures. Wrangel Island currently supports muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and several top predators including a high density of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) during the summer and autumn. Thus, the presence of brown bears could lead to novel interspecies interactions with potentially cascading ecological effects.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"17 1","pages":"1 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85477175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-02-02DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00005.2
A. Arun, T. Sharp, S. Swaminathan, Yogaraj Pannerselvam, K. Satyanarayan, G. Seshamani
Abstract: Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) fall victim to anthropogenic hazards, including snares, small crude explosive devices, open wells, and roads, as well as gunshots, barbed wire, and mob attacks. While conducting rescue efforts in the southern state of Karnataka, India, Wildlife SOS collected data on 20 snare incidents, 8 crude explosive device incidents, 7 roadkill incidents, 5 open well incidents, 2 gunshot attacks, 1 barbed wire incident, and 1 mob attack that occurred between 2006–2007 and 2013–2019. Female sloth bears fell victim to anthropogenic risks more often than did males (68% vs. 32%), and 23% of the females had cubs or were pregnant. This study suggests that anthropogenic risks form a threat to the sloth bear populations in Karnataka, India. Our suggestions to mitigate these threats to sloth bears include stiffer penalties for the use of snares and crude explosive devices, putting lips on all open wells, and working with road agencies and forest departments to construct additional wildlife crossings.
{"title":"Sloth bears and anthropogenic risks in Karnataka, India","authors":"A. Arun, T. Sharp, S. Swaminathan, Yogaraj Pannerselvam, K. Satyanarayan, G. Seshamani","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00005.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00005.2","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) fall victim to anthropogenic hazards, including snares, small crude explosive devices, open wells, and roads, as well as gunshots, barbed wire, and mob attacks. While conducting rescue efforts in the southern state of Karnataka, India, Wildlife SOS collected data on 20 snare incidents, 8 crude explosive device incidents, 7 roadkill incidents, 5 open well incidents, 2 gunshot attacks, 1 barbed wire incident, and 1 mob attack that occurred between 2006–2007 and 2013–2019. Female sloth bears fell victim to anthropogenic risks more often than did males (68% vs. 32%), and 23% of the females had cubs or were pregnant. This study suggests that anthropogenic risks form a threat to the sloth bear populations in Karnataka, India. Our suggestions to mitigate these threats to sloth bears include stiffer penalties for the use of snares and crude explosive devices, putting lips on all open wells, and working with road agencies and forest departments to construct additional wildlife crossings.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"20 1","pages":"1 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83163394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-25DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00007.1
T. Quinn, Aaron J. Wirsing, M. Proctor
Abstract: Hair samples obtained from barbed wire can identify bears from DNA, assess trophic position from stable isotopes, and yield other data. For brown bears (Ursus arctos), a wire height of 50 cm has become standard protocol, but the efficacy of this height has not been evaluated. Here, we briefly review this protocol, and use data from wires across small streams in Alaska to calculate the probability that barbs at a given height obtained samples. We obtained 1,939 hair samples between 2012 and 2019 for an overall daily sampling success rate per barb of 1.55%. Samples were obtained over the range of barb heights (6–97.5 cm), but daily success rate varied from 0.2% at the lowest and highest barbs to 2% from 40 to 70 cm in height. Thus, 50 cm was an effective height and a wider range yielded similar success rates, though wire height may be selective for bears with respect to size and other traits.
{"title":"Optimal barbed wire height for brown bear hair sample collection","authors":"T. Quinn, Aaron J. Wirsing, M. Proctor","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00007.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00007.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Hair samples obtained from barbed wire can identify bears from DNA, assess trophic position from stable isotopes, and yield other data. For brown bears (Ursus arctos), a wire height of 50 cm has become standard protocol, but the efficacy of this height has not been evaluated. Here, we briefly review this protocol, and use data from wires across small streams in Alaska to calculate the probability that barbs at a given height obtained samples. We obtained 1,939 hair samples between 2012 and 2019 for an overall daily sampling success rate per barb of 1.55%. Samples were obtained over the range of barb heights (6–97.5 cm), but daily success rate varied from 0.2% at the lowest and highest barbs to 2% from 40 to 70 cm in height. Thus, 50 cm was an effective height and a wider range yielded similar success rates, though wire height may be selective for bears with respect to size and other traits.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"70 1","pages":"1 - 6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74291409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-11DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00001.1
D. Davaasuren, C. Nominchuluu, S. Lkhagvatseren, H. Reynolds, Odbayar Tumendemberel, J. Swenson, A. Zedrosser
Abstract: We report the first survey of ecto- and endoparasites of brown bears (Ursus arctos gobiensis) in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. We collected 40 ticks from 1 female (21 yr old, 48 kg) and 2 males (10 yr, 155 kg; 5 yr, 108 kg) captured for research purposes in May 2018. We found Dermacentor nutalli (n = 35 ticks, 87.5%) on both male bears and Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 5 ticks, 12.5%) on one male. The female had no ticks. We also collected a fecal sample from each captured bear, and an additional 15 fecal samples in the field. Two (11%) of the 18 fecal samples collected contained eggs of Strongyloides spp.; 1 fecal (10-yr-old male) sample had 2 eggs, and 1 fecal sample collected in the field contained 1 egg. This is the first documentation of parasites of wild bears in Mongolia.
{"title":"Ecto- and endoparasites of brown bears living in an extreme environment, the Gobi Desert, Mongolia","authors":"D. Davaasuren, C. Nominchuluu, S. Lkhagvatseren, H. Reynolds, Odbayar Tumendemberel, J. Swenson, A. Zedrosser","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00001.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-21-00001.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: We report the first survey of ecto- and endoparasites of brown bears (Ursus arctos gobiensis) in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. We collected 40 ticks from 1 female (21 yr old, 48 kg) and 2 males (10 yr, 155 kg; 5 yr, 108 kg) captured for research purposes in May 2018. We found Dermacentor nutalli (n = 35 ticks, 87.5%) on both male bears and Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 5 ticks, 12.5%) on one male. The female had no ticks. We also collected a fecal sample from each captured bear, and an additional 15 fecal samples in the field. Two (11%) of the 18 fecal samples collected contained eggs of Strongyloides spp.; 1 fecal (10-yr-old male) sample had 2 eggs, and 1 fecal sample collected in the field contained 1 egg. This is the first documentation of parasites of wild bears in Mongolia.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"87 1","pages":"1 - 5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2022-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87434821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-27DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00028.1
Yoh Ogawa, K. Tochigi, T. Naganuma, B. S. Dewi, S. Koike
Abstract: We studied the characteristics of the marking behavior of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at rub trees. We recorded the tree-marking (tree-rubbing and bark-scratching) and associated (stomping) behaviors in Japan between 2010 and 2015 using automatic cameras and compared the results with those from previous studies on other bear species. We recorded 22 visits to trees by ≥6 different individuals. During these visits, there were no differences in the frequency or duration between the 3 body orientations of back rubbing, front rubbing, and body-side rubbing, which differs from the findings for other bear species. However, bipedal standing was the most common posture, as observed in other species. We also analyzed the order of tree-marking actions. For a better understanding of the Asiatic black bear's marking behavior, further examples of marking behavior and anatomical studies of secretory glands are needed.
{"title":"Marking behavior of Asiatic black bears at rub trees","authors":"Yoh Ogawa, K. Tochigi, T. Naganuma, B. S. Dewi, S. Koike","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00028.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00028.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: We studied the characteristics of the marking behavior of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at rub trees. We recorded the tree-marking (tree-rubbing and bark-scratching) and associated (stomping) behaviors in Japan between 2010 and 2015 using automatic cameras and compared the results with those from previous studies on other bear species. We recorded 22 visits to trees by ≥6 different individuals. During these visits, there were no differences in the frequency or duration between the 3 body orientations of back rubbing, front rubbing, and body-side rubbing, which differs from the findings for other bear species. However, bipedal standing was the most common posture, as observed in other species. We also analyzed the order of tree-marking actions. For a better understanding of the Asiatic black bear's marking behavior, further examples of marking behavior and anatomical studies of secretory glands are needed.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"18 1","pages":"1 - 7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2021-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74376418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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