Black bears & moose predation

[grrraaahhh]

Interrelationship of Black Bears to Moose and Forest Succession in the Northern Coniferous Forest

Abstract

We compared characteristics of 2 black bear (Ursus americanus) populations living in middle-aged (1947 burn area) and recent (1969 burn area) burned forest stands on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, during 1982-87. Densities of bears on the 1947 ($205\ \text{bears}/1,000\ {\rm km}^{2}$) and 1969 ($265\ \text{bears}/1,000\ {\rm km}^{2}$) burn areas were similar. Sex ratios of the 2 populations were not different (P = 0.478), but there were significantly more (P = 0.007) females than males in both areas. Age structures of the population were different (P = 0.003). There were more yearlings in the 1969 burn area due to higher cub production and survival. Female bears in the 1947 burn bred at a later age (P = 0.03) (5.8 yrs) than females in the 1969 burn (4.6 yrs). Females in the 1947 burn also had a longer interval between successful weaning of yearlings (P = 0.03) (2.4 yrs) than females in the 1969 burn (2.0 yrs). Weights of adult females and yearlings in the 1947 burn area were significantly less (P < 0.001) than those in the 1969 burn area. Food habits and food abundance in the 2 areas were similar except that bears in the 1947 burn area consumed more lowbush cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and bears in the 1969 burn area consumed approximately 4 times more moose calves (Alces alces) per individual. Most bears in both areas migrated each summer from their traditional use areas to old-growth forest where they consumed American devilsclub (Oplopanax horridus) fruit. Timing of migration and length of stay in American devilsclub stands were related to fruit abundance. Estimates of survival using the Kaplan-Meier procedure were significantly lower (P = 0.05) for cubs in the 1947 burn (0.74) than in the 1969 burn (0.91) but higher for subadult females in the 1947 burn. Survival was not different for all other age and sex classes of bears. Human, primarily hunters, caused 85% of the deaths (n = 35) in the 1969 burn, but only 52% (n = 31) in the 1947 burn, where there also was significant mortality from black bears (13%) and brown bears (U. arctos) (10%). Vigor of black bears was linked to moose abundance. The superior growth and reproduction of black bears in the 1969 burn was attributed to a greater consumption of moose calves. Our findings demonstrated a link between neonatal predation and demographics of bear populations.

PDF link:http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/library/pdfs/wildlife/propubs/schwartz_bear_moose_1991.pdf&sa=U&ei=GUBhTZ7iK5S4sQP7tvnFCA&ved=0CCAQFjAI&usg=AFQjCNEt8cV8SiGx1gYh3AAFidoH4UTUdw

[grrraaahhh]

Bear biologist Martin Obbard, at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, Ont., stresses that predatory attacks by black bears are rare. Still, he says, "Bears do kill things. In Chapleau, a male black bear killed a moose cow. That was pretty impressive: he weighed about 340 lb. and the moose was about 800"


www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20060904_132828_132828

[grrraaahhh]

Austin et al. (1994) reported an incident of an adult cow moose killed by a collared adult male black bear in the boreal forest near Chapleau. They concluded that some adult male black bears are capable of killing adult moose, but it was very rare. Obbard et al. (2000) also found an adult female black bear killed by a moose in the boreal forest near Chapleau. It was concluded that moose are dangerous prey for black bears, at least adult females.

Ontario Government Documents Collection / Collection de documents du gouvernement de l'Ontario Enhanced Black Bear Management in Ontario 2009.

PDF LINK: www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mnr.gov.on.ca%2Fstdprodconsume%2Fgroups%2Flr%2F%40mnr%2F%40fw%2Fdocuments%2Fdocument%2F274504.pdf&rct=j&q=%20Enhanced%20Black%20Bear%20Management%20in%20Ontario%202009&ei=VJBrTtykMMfr0gGP2omRBQ&usg=AFQjCNFUkVltZI9SsPuj8TnXI43uy3765w&cad=rja

[Deleted]

Mar 8, 2011 6:31:06 GMT -9 grrraaahhh said:

Bear biologist Martin Obbard, at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, Ont., stresses that predatory attacks by black bears are rare. Still, he says, "Bears do kill things. In Chapleau, a male black bear killed a moose cow. That was pretty impressive: he weighed about 340 lb. and the moose was about 800"


www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20060904_132828_132828

I believe that the black bear is mostly overlooked and while its rare this is a very impressive and rare display of a black bear's true strength (killing something more than twice his weight).
Big bons stated that the exceptionally large male blackies become bolder and more carnivorouse than the rest.

[grrraaahhh]

Mar 8, 2011 6:31:06 GMT -9 grrraaahhh said:

Bear biologist Martin Obbard, at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, Ont., stresses that predatory attacks by black bears are rare. Still, he says, "Bears do kill things. In Chapleau, a male black bear killed a moose cow. That was pretty impressive: he weighed about 340 lb. and the moose was about 800"


www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20060904_132828_132828

Text extract & paraphrase:

Adult male black bear #036 (18 years old) the suspected culprit. Author speculation was that the Black Bear attacked the Moose at its bedding site possibly while the cow was lying down.

The bear is speculated to have bitten the neck or muzzle of the cow and held on, perhaps at least partially on the cow's back. The cow attempted to run but was slowed by the weight of the bear. The cow then collided into a Balsam Fir, veered to the right, and ran into the White Spruce possibly in an attempt to dislodge the bear. The bear pushed off the tree with a rear paw leaving the mark in the tree. The cow continued for another 15 m and collapsed or stumbled and was killed by the bear. From the placement of the punctures below the lower jaw the bear may have pulled on the head of the Moose to break its neck or may have at least partially covered the muzzle of the moose and suffocated it.

There were no differences in predation reported rates among sexes or age classes of Black Bears preying on Moose calves (Ballard et al. 1990), but certain Black Bears such as large males may prey on adult Moose more frequently than previously thought.

Few studies have investigated the causes of mortality in adult Moose in areas where Black Bears are common but Brown Bears are rare or absent.



Obbard, Martin (1994). Evidence for a Black Bear, Ursus americanus, killing an Adult Moose, Alces alces. Canadian Field Naturalist, 108: 236-238.

[warsaw]

Bear Attacks Bull Moose in New Hampshire
By Jim on November 17th, 2008


Very cool story from today’s Union Leader about a guy who saw a bear chasing a moose here in New Hampshire:


The chase unfolded about noon Tuesday as Simons, a Lincoln resident, was hiking a 12-mile loop along the Lincoln Woods trail, about 6 miles out from the Kancamagus Highway.

He paused on the suspension bridge at the junction with the Cedar Brook trail, taking in a snowy, windswept view of the woods and water.

“All of a sudden, I see a shadow on my left, and as I turned to look, I see a moose with antlers moving quickly past the bridge and down to the water,” Simons recalled.

He grabbed his camera and was trying to focus on the bull moose, which he estimated to be about 1,000 pounds, as snow fell around him.

“As I was trying to get it into focus while it was snowing, he came right down to the stream and stopped for a second, looking over its shoulder,” he said.

Although that picture is very blurry, it is clear to see the moose taking a look behind it at water’s edge.

“I was trying to get off another shot, and as I was focusing, I see another shadow at the river,” Simons said. “I looked over, and out comes a bear running full bore, looking straight across at the moose.”

That picture is a little clearer, as the bear splashed across the water. He estimated the bruin was well over 200 pounds, and at its closes point, was 10 yards below Simons on the bridge.

“I thought, ‘Oh my god.’ I just knew I had seen something that was once in a lifetime. It all happened really quick; as quick as it started, it was over.”


www.freenewhampshireblog.com/index.php/2008/11/17/bear-chases-bull-moose-in-new-hampshire/
share.shutterfly.com/share/received/album.sfly?sid=0ActWjRu4bsmLG3g&startIndex=0&fid=3e1940d376eef7f7



LINCOLN - In hindsight, Mike Simons wonders what would have happened if he had decided to sip coffee on the trail rather than pause on a bridge last week while on a hike in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

"It could have been ugly," he said. "There would have been claws, antlers, hooves and coffee as we all scared the hell out of each other."

Instead, Simons was far enough off the path of what he's calling his "once-in-a-lifetime moment" when he witnessed a bear chasing a bull moose "full bore" and even got off a couple of shots with his camera.

"He is very lucky to have seen that and gotten some shots," said Fish and Game Department bear biologist Andrew Timmins. "It's a very unique situation."

The chase unfolded about noon Tuesday as Simons, a Lincoln resident, was hiking a 12-mile loop along the Lincoln Woods trail, about 6 miles out from the Kancamagus Highway.

He paused on the suspension bridge at the junction with the Cedar Brook trail, taking in a snowy, windswept view of the woods and water.

"All of a sudden, I see a shadow on my left, and as I turned to look, I see a moose with antlers moving quickly past the bridge and down to the water," Simons recalled.

He grabbed his camera and was trying to focus on the bull moose, which he estimated to be about 1,000 pounds, as snow fell around him.

"As I was trying to get it into focus while it was snowing, he came right down to the stream and stopped for a second, looking over its shoulder," he said.

Although that picture is very blurry, it is clear to see the moose taking a look behind it at water's edge.

"I was trying to get off another shot, and as I was focusing, I see another shadow at the river," Simons said. "I looked over, and out comes a bear running full bore, looking straight across at the moose."

That picture is a little clearer, as the bear splashed across the water. He estimated the bruin was well over 200 pounds, and at its closes point, was 10 yards below Simons on the bridge.

"I thought, 'Oh my god.' I just knew I had seen something that was once in a lifetime. It all happened really quick; as quick as it started, it was over."

The hightailing moose and bear followed the same trail Simons eventually resumed.

"I finished my coffee," he said with a laugh. "I think I gave them a good head start, about 10 minutes. I was working on the probability that no one has been attacked by a bear in New Hampshire in a long time."

Simons said he followed moose and bear tracks for about a mile before they veered off.

"As I walked along, I made a fair amount of noise," he said, blowing the emergency whistle he carries in his pack every minute or so.

He completed his hike without incident and presumes that the moose lived to see another day.

"I saw no carnage," he said.

Timmins said that while predation of bear on moose and deer is not something that has been studied in New Hampshire, there have been cases where bears have killed deer fawns and moose calves shortly after birth.

In Canada, he said, moose calves are a major source of food for bears.

"I believe the bear would have had a very tough time taking down a bull moose," Timmins said. "This could have been a bear that has learned to be a predator and maybe had some luck killing a deer. It may have stumbled on an opportunity to see if it could catch a moose."

www.wildsurvive.com/outdoor-camping-forum/index.php?topic=3407.0

Can anyone verify this story ?

[sarus]

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www.flickr.com/photos/themensp/4644498309/

"This moose was probably attacked by a bear I was told".
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[sarus]

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loveopium.ru/content/2012/10/wildlife/09.jpg
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Brieuc Graillot Denaix (France)

The unexpected hunter

Brieuc was hiking with his family in Forillon National Park in Gaspé, Canada,
hoping to photograph a wild black bear, when this one fell, literally, into his
path. A terrified young moose suddenly leapt out of the bushes onto the track,
he says, followed by a black bear, which jumped onto its back attempting to
break its neck. Brieuc by then was just 30 metres away and was quick enough
to get a picture. A few seconds later, a car drew up, and the bear retreated, leaving
the moose on the road to die from its neck injuries. (Black bears, being
omnivorous, eat other mammals. Later, rangers moved the dead moose so that
the bear could find it.) ‘The drama lasted about a minute. But what a memory! ,
says Brieuc.

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► www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/photo.do?photo=2891&category=21&group=2
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