A study of predominant aerobic microflora of black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in northwestern Alberta

1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (11) ◽  
pp. 949-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Goatcher ◽  
M. W. Barrett ◽  
R. N. Coleman ◽  
A. W. L. Hawley ◽  
A. A. Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Bacteria ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Random Distribution ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bear ◽  
Streptococcus Species ◽  
Generic Composition

Swab specimens were obtained from nasal, rectal, and preputial or vaginal areas of 37 grizzly and 17 black bears, captured during May to June of 1981 to 1983, to determine the types and frequency of predominant aerobic microflora. Bacterial genera most frequently isolated from bears were Escherichia, Citrobacter, Hafnia, Proteus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species, comprising about 65% of the isolates. Erwinia, Xanthomonas, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, and Gluconobacter/Acetobacter were also isolated but at lower frequencies (< 5%). Comparison of bacterial generic composition using similarity quotient values showed no appreciable differences between grizzly and black bear flora. Also, no outstanding differences in bacterial generic composition were observed among grizzly bear samples; however, differences were noted among black bear samples. Fungal genera most commonly encountered included Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Sporobolomyces, and Candida. In general, the microflora of both bear types were marked by generic diversity and random distribution. The majority of microorganisms isolated from the plant samples in the study area were also found in bear samples. This observation and the presence of certain water and soil bacteria in samples from bears suggest that the predominant microflora of both grizzly and black bears were transient and probably influenced by their foraging habits and surrounding environments.

Serological survey of selected canine viral pathogens and zoonoses in grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (Ursus americanus) from Alaska

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 756-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.B. CHOMEL ◽  
R.W. KASTEN ◽  
G. CHAPPUIS ◽  
M. SOULIER ◽  
Y. KIKUCHI
Keyword(s):  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Serological Survey ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Ursus Arctos Horribilis

INVESTIGATION OF SARCOCYSTIS SPP. INFECTION IN FREE-RANGING AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS) AND GRIZZLY BEARS (URSUS ARCTOS HORRIBILIS) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa K. F. Lee ◽  
Glenna F. McGregor ◽  
Katherine H. Haman ◽  
Stephen Raverty ◽  
Michael E. Grigg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Ursus Arctos Horribilis ◽  
Sarcocystis Spp ◽  
American Black ◽  
American Black Bears ◽  
Free Ranging

Helminths of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and American black bears (Ursus americanus) in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 765-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Catalano ◽  
M. Lejeune ◽  
P. Tizzani ◽  
G.G. Verocai ◽  
H. Schwantje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Infection Parameters ◽  
American Black ◽  
American Black Bears

Between May 2011 and June 2013, we collected the carcasses and gastrointestinal tracts of 40 American black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) and 13 grizzly bears (Ursus arctos L., 1758) from populations of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Specimens were examined for helminths, which were identified to the species level by applying an integrated morphological and molecular approach. Our goal was to investigate parasite biodiversity and infection parameters in the sampled grizzly and black bears. We found seven parasite taxa: Dirofilaria ursi Yamaguti, 1941, Baylisascaris transfuga (Rudolphi, 1819), Uncinaria rauschi Olsen, 1968, Uncinaria yukonensis (Wolfgang, 1956), Taenia arctos Haukisalmi, Lavikainen, Laaksonen and Meri, 2011, Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824), and Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense Yamane, Kamo, Bylund and Wikgren, 1986. The statistical significance of infection prevalence, intensity, and abundance for each helminth species was assessed relative to host species, gender, age class, sampling season, and location. This is the first unequivocal report of the potentially zoonotic tapeworms D. dendriticum and D. nihonkaiense in North American bears. Furthermore, we provide insight into the biology and ecology of the nematodes B. transfuga, D. ursi, and species of Uncinaria Frölich, 1789, and enrich the information available on the recently described tapeworm T. arctos.

Scat detection dogs in wildlife research and management: application to grizzly and black bears in the Yellowhead Ecosystem, Alberta, Canada

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel K Wasser ◽  
Barbara Davenport ◽  
Elizabeth R Ramage ◽  
Kathleen E Hunt ◽  
Margaret Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bear ◽  
Fecal Cortisol ◽  
The North ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Northern Portion

We report the development and application of a method using domestic dogs (Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758) to systematically locate wildlife scat over large remote areas. Detection dogs are chosen for their strong object orientation, high play drive, and willingness to strive for a reward. Dogs were trained to detect grizzly bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) and black bear (Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) scats over a 5200-km2 area of the Yellowhead Ecosystem, Alberta, Canada. DNA from scat provided the species and (for grizzly bears only) sex and individual identities of the animal at each location. Concentrations of fecal cortisol and progesterone metabolites from these same grizzly bear scats provided indices of physiological stress and reproductive activity (in females), respectively. Black and grizzly bears were most concentrated in the northern portion of the multiuse study area, where food is most abundant yet poaching-related mortality appears to be heaviest. Physiologic stress was also lowest and female reproductive activity correspondingly highest for grizzly bears in the north. The scat-based distributions corresponded to concurrently collected hair-snag data in 1999 and global positioning system radiotelemetry data (of grizzly bears) in 1999 and 2001. Results suggest that the scat dog detection methodology provides a promising tool for addressing a variety of management and research questions in the wildlife sciences.

SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN GRIZZLY BEARS (URSUS ARCTOS) AND BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS), FROM ALASKA, 1988 TO 1991

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno B. Chomel ◽  
Randall L. Zarnke ◽  
Rickie W. Kasten ◽  
Philip H. Kass ◽  
E. Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Serologic Survey

Implications of a high-energy and low-protein diet on the body composition, fitness, and competitive abilities of black (Ursus americanus) and grizzly (Ursus arctos) bears

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 546-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.N. McLellan
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Protein Body ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Low Protein

Plants are not ideal foods for bears yet many populations are largely vegetarian. Implications of this diet on the body composition, fitness, and competiveness of black ( Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) and grizzly ( Ursus arctos L., 1758) bears have had limited field investigation. The analysis of scats of grizzly and black bears from the Flathead valley, British Columbia, suggest seasonal dietary differences between species, but >85% of the summer diet of both species were fruits that are low in protein. Body composition measurements showed bears loose fat during spring, gained fat during summer, and grizzly bears were leaner than black bears. Individual black bears gained mass up to 2.7 times faster than theory predicted. Bears rapidly gained fat but lost lean tissues while feeding on fruit, suggesting that lean tissues were used to buffer seasonal protein shortages. Comparisons among populations of grizzly bears without access to salmon revealed the amount of meat in the diet was positively related with adult female mass but negatively related with bear density. Bears have the behavioural and phenotypic plasticity which enables populations that focus their foraging on plants to have small but fat females and live at higher densities than populations that focus more on obtaining terrestrial meat.

Lactation, hibernation, and mass dynamics of American black bears and grizzly bears

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2216-2222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean D. Farley ◽  
Charles T. Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Ash Content ◽  
Milk Intake ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bear ◽  
American Black ◽  
American Black Bears

Milk composition and intake, cub growth, and mass loss of hibernating lactating and nonlactating American black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) were investigated. Except for ash content, milk composition was similar between species. Lipid content varied only slightly throughout lactation, whereas carbohydrate content increased from 1 to 3% during hibernation before decreasing to less than 0.5% at the end of lactation. Protein and dry matter content increased from 6.6 ± 0.4 and 29.8 ± 3.9% during hibernation to 13.7 ± 1.1 and 34.4 ± 3.7% post hibernation, respectively. The ash content of black bear milk increased from 1% during hibernation to 2% after den emergence, but the ash content of grizzly bear milk (1.3 ± 0.1%) did not fluctuate. Mean milk intake and growth during hibernation were 185 ± 89 and 49 ± 9 g/day for black bear cubs and 353 ± 54 and 98 ± 22 g/day for grizzly bear cubs, respectively, which accounted for about 9% of the estimated yearly milk consumption by the cubs. Milk intake peaked during the summer at levels approximately 4 times higher than those occurring in the winter den. The mass lost by older, hibernating, nonlactating bears was proportional to their metabolic body mass and was almost exclusively lipid. The rate of mass loss by denning, lactating females relative to nonlactating bears was 45% higher for black bears and 95% higher for grizzly bears. The less costly black bear cub may be at an important competitive advantage when both species occupy nutritionally limited habitat.

scholarly journals Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (Ursus americanus) prevent trabecular bone loss during disuse (hibernation)

Bone ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1186-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan E. McGee-Lawrence ◽  
Samantha J. Wojda ◽  
Lindsay N. Barlow ◽  
Thomas D. Drummer ◽  
Alesha B. Castillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Loss ◽  
Trabecular Bone ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Ursus Arctos Horribilis ◽  
Trabecular Bone Loss

A grizzly bear from the Middle Wisconsin of Woodbridge, Ontario

1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Churcher ◽  
Alan V. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Grizzly Bears ◽  
Grizzly Bear ◽  
Bone Fragment ◽  
Mammuthus Primigenius ◽  
Ursus Arctos Horribilis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Lake Simcoe ◽  
Left Humerus ◽  
Woolly Mammoth

The distal end of the left humerus of a grizzly bear, Ursus arctos, has been recovered from above the Early Wisconsin Sunnybrook Till at Woodbridge, Ontario, from the same horizon that previously has yielded remains of the woolly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius. The age of these specimens is estimated at 40 000–50 000 years BP, within the mid-Wisconsin, Port Talbot Interstadial. The only other recognized Canadian record of a grizzly bear east of Manitoba is from a gravel sequence at Barrie, near Lake Simcoe, Ontario, dated from a bone fragment to 11 700 ± 250 years BP. A specimen recovered in Toronto in 1913 from an Early Wisconsin horizon is also considered to represent the grizzly. Bears of the grizzly type, Ursus arctos-horribilis were present in Ontario before and after the Early and Late Wisconsin ice advances.

scholarly journals Behavior in Free-Living American Black Bear Dens: Parturition, Maternal Care, and Cub Behavior

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1123
Author(s):  
Lynn L. Rogers ◽  
Linda McColley ◽  
Janet Dalton ◽  
Jim Stroner ◽  
Douglas Hajicek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
American Black Bear ◽  
Eye Opening ◽  
American Black

Denning behavior has long remained the least observed aspect of bear behavior. During 2010–2013, we used webcams, microphones, the internet, and 14,602 h of archived video to document the denning behaviors of two adult wild black bears (Ursus americanus) as they gave birth and cared for four litters through six winters in northeastern Minnesota. Observations included types of dens, labor, pre-parturient genital swelling, birthing positions, post-partum vocalizations, mothers removing amniotic tissues and warming newborn cubs in sub-freezing temperatures, frequency of nursing, cubs establishing nipple order, yearlings suckling, the ingestion of snow and icicles, the ingestion of foot pads, urination and defecation in latrine areas, toilet-licking, eye opening, reciprocal tongue-licking, play, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and possible dreaming, and reactions to wildlife intruders. The use of this new method for observing natural bear dens allowed the identification of many behaviors undescribed for any species of wild bear in dens. We also discuss the need for future studies and how the depth and duration of black bear hibernation varies with body condition and geographic region.

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