Black Bears and the Iroquoians

Bears ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 138-159
Author(s):  
Christian Gates St-Pierre ◽  
Claire St-Germain ◽  
Louis-Vincent Laperrière-Désorcy
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Northeastern North America ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Economic Role ◽  
Faunal Assemblages

The study presented in this chapter uses archaeological and ethnohistorical data to discuss the role of black bears (Ursus americanus) among Pre-Contact Iroquoian societies from Northeastern North America. This role is proving to be complex and multifaceted, and the analysis of the archaeological and ethnohistorical records provide contradictory conclusions. According to the ethnohistorical documents considered in this study, black bear appears to be predominantly mentioned in subsistence and hunting contexts. In contrast, bones from black bear have been identified in a majority of Iroquoian faunal assemblages, but always in small numbers, indicating a ubiquitous, yet minor role for black bear in Pre-Contact Iroquoian foodways. Moreover, ethnonyms, myths, and legends also suggest that the symbolic and identity dimensions of black bear outweighed their economic role. The results of the ZooMS analysis of a set of Iroquoian bone projectile points is especially revealing in this respect.

scholarly journals Wild black bears harbor simple gut microbial communities with little difference between the jejunum and colon

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sierra J. Gillman ◽  
Erin A. McKenney ◽  
Diana J. R. Lafferty
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Number Of Bacteria

AbstractThe gut microbiome (GMB), comprising the commensal microbial communities located in the gastrointestinal tract, has co-evolved in mammals to perform countless micro-ecosystem services to facilitate physiological functions. Because of the complex inter-relationship between mammals and their gut microbes, the number of studies addressing the role of the GMB on mammalian health is almost exclusively limited to human studies and model organisms. Furthermore, much of our knowledge of wildlife–GMB relationships is based on studies of colonic GMB communities derived from the feces of captive specimens, leaving our understanding of the GMB in wildlife limited. To better understand wildlife–GMB relationships, we engaged hunters as citizen scientists to collect biological samples from legally harvested black bears (Ursus americanus) and used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize wild black bear GMB communities in the colon and jejunum, two functionally distinct regions of the gastrointestinal tract. We determined that the jejunum and colon of black bears do not harbor significantly different GMB communities: both gastrointestinal sites were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. However, a number of bacteria were differentially enriched in each site, with the colon harboring twice as many enriched taxa, primarily from closely related lineages.

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.

scholarly journals Giant Beaver, Castoroides ohioensis, Remains in Canada and an Overlooked Report from Ontario

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 330 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Richard Harington
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Ice Age

The Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) was the largest ice age rodent in North America, reaching about the size of a Black Bear (Ursus americanus). In Canada, fossils of this species are commonly found in the Old Crow Basin, Yukon, and single specimens are known from Toronto, Ontario and Indian Island, New Brunswick. A hitherto overlooked 1891 record of a Giant Beaver skull from near Highgate, Ontario is the earliest for Canada.

Glaciation of the Torngat Mountains, Northern Labrador

ARCTIC ◽  
1957 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Ives
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Glacial Period ◽  
Large Area ◽  
International Union ◽  
Northeastern North America ◽  
Glacial Periods

Considers role of these mountains in glaciation of Labrador-Ungava, assessing particularly events in late-Wisconsin times with respect to final disappearance of both continental and local ice masses. Conflicting theories are discussed, and evidence presented, based on physiography and findings from summer 1956 field work, including unmistakable erratics on summits at 4,000-5,000 ft. The highest summits were completely submerged by eastward moving continental ice during the Wisconsin glaciation; local glaciers never reached significant dimensions; rapid melting in situ of thick masses of ice occurred during the final Wisconsin stages. Two or three separate glacial periods are recognized from the morphology of the area. Instantaneous glaciation of a large area of the Labrador-Ungava Plateau probably initiated a continental ice sheet in northeastern North America at the onset of each glacial period. Also pub. in International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, Association of Scientific Hydrology, 11th assembly report of proceedings 1958, v. 4, p. 372-86.

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.

The field energetics of winter-dormant black bear (Ursus americanus) in northeastern Minnesota

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (10) ◽  
pp. 2095-2103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Maxwell ◽  
Jeffrey Thorkelson ◽  
Lynn L. Rogers ◽  
Robert B. Brander
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Heat Budget ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Oblate Spheroid ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Protein Catabolism ◽  
Winter Climate ◽  
Internal Sources

Black bears (Ursus americanus) can spend half of their lives in a severe winter climate using only internal sources of energy and exchanging energy only as heat with their external environment. This paper presents the energy requirement to maintain a bear, and the magnitude of the heat transfer pathways to the bear's surroundings. Flux rate densities of the heat budget were measured for two denning black bears. It was found that the surface area of an oblate spheroid simulating the shape of the curled-up bears balanced the budgets. From these data a simulated bear–den system was constructed for a 75-kg animal: a fur-covered spheroid that was electrically heated and maintained at 36 °C. The energy requirement and heat transport were measured through the skin and in the den over winter, as was the oxygen consumption of a live bear in a similar den nearby. Over a 145-day denning period, mass loss due to fat catabolism would have ranged between 24 and 28% for the simulated bear with the entrance sealed or open, respectively. Using the amount of oxygen consumed and holding body water constant, the mass loss of the live bear over the same period would have been 19% if just fat had been catabolized. However, additional protein catabolism near the end of the denning period caused the loss to increase to 31%, primarily through urination. Once net protein catabolism began, dehydration and not starvation became life threatening.

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