Dickinson Ch18: American Black Bear

The American black bear is the most common of the 8 bear species worldwide.
The North American population exceeds 600,000, with most states reporting stable or increasing numbers.
The species has been extirpated from some Midwestern and eastern states.
In the South, over 90% of the species' historic range has disappeared due primarily to intensive agricultural activities and significant land use changes.
The southeastern black bear is typically solid black with a brownish muzzle.
Bears are plantigrade (walk on the soles of their feet) and possess intelligence, strong senses of smell and hearing, and great speed and strength.

Human attitudes toward bears have historically varied, including fear, caution, respect, and reverence.
Native Americans treated black bears with respect, attributing human qualities to them and incorporating them into rituals, ceremonies, and worship.
Early white settlers in the South hunted bears for meat and skins. As settlements grew, habitat clearing for agriculture caused bear populations to rapidly decline and disappear.
The remnant populations that survived found refuge in national forests, parks, and large wilderness areas, primarily in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Of the 16 subspecies listed by Hall (1981), 3 occur in the South. Due to fragmented habitats in the Southeast, 2 of these 3 subspecies are either listed or proposed for listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Black bear populations are primarily confined to mountain regions (like the Appalachians) and coastal plains due to habitat loss.
In 1970, the regional population estimate for 11 southern states was approximately 3,995 bears.
By 1996, the regional population estimate for these states had increased significantly to 19,820 bears. North Carolina had the largest estimated population in 1996 (8,000).

Black bears are adaptable omnivores. They are taxonomically carnivores but functionally omnivores, relying heavily on plant products.
Their diet is approximately 80% plant material. They are highly dependent on mast crops (e.g., acorns, hickory nuts, berries, fruits) for securing fat reserves needed for denning.
Females typically give birth to cubs every 2 years, with an average litter size of 2. Most births in the South occur in mid-January to mid-February while the female is denning.
To sustain viable populations, black bears require large, landscape-level areas of at least 150 to 300 square miles with low permanent human populations.
Denning sites often include large tree cavities, particularly preferred by pregnant females for the security of newborn cubs.

Legal annual harvest in Southern states currently exceeds 42,000.
Harvest is managed to sustain populations, with appropriate annual harvest rates ranging from 20 to 25% in stable populations.
Total harvest for the 11 Southern states increased from 628 in 1970 to 2,018 in 1996.
Management Goals: There are 8 basic components of good black bear management, including: Human Access control, Habitat protection, Nuisance control, Information/Education, Harvest, Monitoring, and Research.
Primary threat is habitat degradation and fragmentation, which can lead to isolated populations and genetic vulnerability.
Human-bear interaction is an increasing issue, with nuisance problems (birdfeeders, dog food, dumpsters) occurring as people move into bear habitat.
Securing habitat corridors is vital for genetic exchange and long-term population stability.
Proactive public information-education programs are considered essential for minimizing human-bear conflicts.