Ecology and Conservation of Louisiana Black Bears in The
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Master's Theses Graduate School 2005 Ecology and conservation of Louisiana black bears in the Tensas River Basin and reintroduced populations John Farnum Benson Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Benson, John Farnum, "Ecology and conservation of Louisiana black bears in the Tensas River Basin and reintroduced populations" (2005). LSU Master's Theses. 2603. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/2603 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Master's Theses by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF LOUISIANA BLACK BEARS IN THE TENSAS RIVER BASIN AND REINTRODUCED POPULATIONS A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in The School of Renewable Natural Resources by John Farnum Benson B.A. University of Connecticut, 1995 B.S. Humboldt State University, 2001 May 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank Dr. Michael Chamberlain for providing me with the opportunity to work on this project. Thanks also for giving me the resources and support to do the job, extreme generosity with data and publication opportunities, funding for things like computers and conference expenses that students in many labs must provide for themselves, and for your open-door policy and willingness to listen. I thank Dr. Mark Mitchell for serving on my committee and for assisting with the acquisition with anesthetics. Thanks to Dr. Michael Stine for serving on my committee and all the work and advice on genetics. Thanks to the following funding sources: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, United States Department of Agriculture/APHIS/Wildlife Services, CoyPu Foundation, Boone and Crockett Club, Pope and Young Club, Black Bear Conservation Committee, Johnston Science Foundation, and Cleco Corporation. Thanks to all United States Fish and Wildlife personnel that assisted with this project. I would especially like to thank everyone at the Tensas River NWR: M. Bedford, T. Whitney, T. Williams, R. Cobb, J. Tarver, DD. Arnold, Y. Magee, L. Watson, S. Hunter, S. Howarter, J. Mikeal, B. Rabalais, M. Simmons, A. Kahn, and J. Ford. Your support and hospitality made things much easier and more enjoyable. A huge thanks to the great people of Lake Ophelia NWR: M. Chouinard, T. Chouinard, R. “Bulldog” Dupuy Jr., B. Bordelon, J. Baker, D. Brevelle, B. Soileau, D. Soileau, T.Robinson, D. Laborde, M. Gautreaux, and M. Carter. Thanks for making my 2 years at Lake O so much fun and an experience that will not be forgotten. Special thanks to R. Crossett who was always a pleasure to work and talk with, and helped make ii Lake Ophelia the successful bear reintroduction site that it has become. Also thanks to D. Fuller, S.Reagan, J.Ertel, M.Esters, D. Soileau, and J. Smith. Thanks to all LDWF employees that assisted, especially M. Davidson, J.Warren, L. Moak, and G.Lester. Thanks to D. Leblanc of USDA for helping with many things and providing the project with many essential vehicles. Thanks to D. Anderson for advice on trapping, den captures, and other things. Thanks to P.Davidson and D. Telesco of the BBCC for your help and always staying positive. I am especially indebted to C. Turnage, M. Hooker, and R. Eastridge of the Arkansas bear crew for advice on bear reintroduction and training with tree climbing. The winter trips to White River during den season were as fun as they were instructive. Also thanks for the help with captures and fostering. The project would not have been possible without all the hospitality of landowners around Lake Ophelia, Tensas, and Deltic. I especially want to thank Bryan McCann for his support and interest in this project. I thank everyone else at Corbett Farms, R. Smith and family, Brent and everyone at Lac Amelia, B. Stephens, Jim and everyone at Paradise, A. Dupuy, J. Luquette, J. Rife and everyone around Bob Rife road and the Possum Bayou Hunt Club. Special thanks also to the folks at Hardbargain Farm and Deltic Farm and Timber. Also thanks to the folks at Scott Property, Kennedy Property, Chicago Mill, Jay at Somerset Farms, and all the other landowners around Tensas. If I have left any landowners or other folks I met while out and about around Louisiana, I sincerely apologize. I was more than just allowed to use your property- I was welcomed and given the freedom to come and go when and where I pleased. The graciousness and hospitality of Louisiana landowners to me personally and to the project never ceased to amaze me. The project could not be done without you. iii A huge thanks to all the technicians, volunteers, crew leaders, and research associates that worked so hard on the project during my time here: S. Ginger, J. Chelko, B. Lorenz, S. Mullen, J. Sloan, J. Brown, B. Tabor, T. Roland, A. Johnson, J. Fox, B. Hetzel, J. Cooper, S.K. Wise, J. Fontenot, and B. Sheehan. I enjoyed working with and getting to know each one of you and hope everyone is doing well. Thanks to everyone in the Chamberlain lab for making things fun and putting up with me: D. Temple, C. Kitts, K. Landry, K. Chodachek, J. Jones, J. Baggett, and K.VanWhy. Special thanks to W. Wilson and J. Burke for help with seed ID on the scat analysis. Thanks to H. Legrand for the laughs and great hair styling. Thanks to D. Scognamillo for the helpful and enjoyable chats about ecology and life. Thanks also to J.Frey and J. Thayer for help with data entry and other things. Huge thanks to M. Bowen for all the hard work in the lab. Thanks to J. Raithel and A. Crook for doing such a great job this winter and making the transition so smooth. Thanks to special and old friends L. D’Avirro and M. Haggarty who were the only 2 friends to follow through on visiting me in the swamps of Louisiana. A VERY special thanks to L. D’Avirro for being an enthusiastic participant in hours of bear tracking, acorn surveys, and other project activities during multiple “vacations” in Louisiana. The great times and your friendship were appreciated more than you know. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………. ii LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………………viii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………... x ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………….. xi CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION, GENERAL METHODS, RESULTS OF CAPTURE AND REINTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………....1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….1 OBJECTIVES………………………………………………………………………....3 ORGANIZATION OF THESIS…………………………………………………........4 Use of First Person…………………………………………………………....4 GENERAL METHODS……………………………………………………………....5 Study Area and Populations…………………………………………………..5 Black Bear Capture and Handling………………………………………….....9 Reintroduction…………………………………………………………….......9 Radio-Telemetry and Home Range Estimation……………………………. .11 RESULTS OF THE CAPTURE AND REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS………......12 Capture……………………………………………………………………….12 Reintroduction……………………………………………………………......12 CHAPTER 2. DIET OF BLACK BEARS IN THE TENSAS RIVER BASIN…………......17 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………....17 METHODS…………………………………………………………………………...18 RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………….20 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………….......26 CHAPTER 3. SEASONAL AND ANNUAL SPACE USE OF FEMALE BLACK BEARS IN TENSAS RIVER BASIN AND REINTRODUCED POPULATIONS……………………...30 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………30 METHODS……………………………………………………………………….…..32 Sampling Design……………………………………………………………...32 Tensas River Basin…………………………………………………....32 Lake Ophelia………………………………………………………….33 Determination of Reproductive Status………………………………………..35 Space Use Overlap……………………………………………………………35 Statistical Analyses……………………………………………………….......36 RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………….37 Tensas River Basin……………………………………………………….......37 v Space Use in Relation to Reproductive Status……………………..37 Seasonal Space Use Across Subpopulations……………………….37 Seasonal Space Use Within Subpopulations……………………….37 Lake Ophelia……………………………………………………………….42 Space Use in Relation to Reproductive Status……………………..42 Seasonal Space Use………………………………………………...42 Space use of Reintroduced vs. Source Populations…………….…..43 Space Use Overlap……………………………………………………....….43 DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………….…...46 Tensas River Basin…………………………………………………….…....46 Lake Ophelia…………………………………………………………..........49 Space Use Overlap………………………………………………………….51 CHAPTER 4. HABITAT SELECTION OF ADULT FEMALE BLACK BEARS IN THE TENSAS RIVER BASIN AND REINTRODUCED POPULATIONS……………………53 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………..53 METHODS…………………………………………………………………….…....55 Habitat Classification………………………………………………………..55 Habitat Selection Analysis…………………………………………………..58 Statistical Analyses…………………………………………………….…....59 RESULTS……………………………………………………………………….......60 Tensas River Basin………………………………………………………….60 2nd Order Habitat Selection…………………………………….........60 3rd Order Habitat Selection………………………………....….........62 Lake Ophelia……………………………………………………....………..63 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………....…............63 Tensas River Basin………………………………………………………….63 Lake Ophelia……………………………………………………………......70