BLACK BEAR ( URSUS AMERICANUS ) ECOLOGY IN SOUTHERN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK by Leslie Marie Frattaroli A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana July 2011 ©COPYRIGHT by Leslie Marie Frattaroli 2011 All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Leslie Marie Frattaroli This thesis has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format, citation, bibliographic style, and consistency and is ready for submission to The Graduate School. Dr. Scott Creel Approved for the Department of Ecology Dr. Dave Roberts Approved for The Graduate School Dr. Carl A. Fox iii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it available to borrowers under rules of the Library. If I have indicated my intention to copyright this thesis by including a copyright notice page, copying is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with “fair use” as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this thesis in whole or in parts may be granted only by the copyright holder. Leslie Marie Frattaroli July 2011 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Shannon Podruzny and Craig Whitman for taking the time to teach me the field methods that were essential to this project. I would also like to thank Chelsea Rector, Andrea Drayer, Marissa Rodero, Tim Lyons, Aly Courtemanche, and Mary Greenblatt for helping me conduct field work. I would like to express my sincerest thanks to Megan Ruehmann, Jessica Chitwood, Josh Brown, and Kim Wells for their moral support. I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Scott Creel, Dr. Steve Cherry, and Dr. Andy Hansen, for their technical support and patience. I would like to extend my thanks to my supervisor, Steve Cain, for giving me the opportunity to conduct this research, continual guidance, and constructive criticism. I would also like to express my gratitude to my co-advisor, Chuck Schwartz, for his encouragement, guidance, refusing to give up on me, and most of all for being the researcher/scientist I strive to be. I would like to thank my family for support and encouragement. A special thanks to David Moeny for edits, data analysis, discussions, encouragement, and friendship. His unwavering support and guidance were instrumental in the final stages of my thesis. A final thank you to the black bears of southern Grand Teton National Park, I am honored I had the chance to work with such magnificent animals. Funding for this project was provided by the Charles Engelhard Foundation, Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation, Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, University of Wyoming/National Park Service Research Station, John and Karin McQuillan, The Wildlife Society/Wyoming Chapter Memorial Bear Fund, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Grand Teton National Park, and the USGS Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. v TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. BLACK BEAR ( URSUS AMERICANUS ) ACTIVITY AND FOOD PATTERNS IN SOUTHERN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK……………………………………………………………………………..…….1 Abstract............................................................................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................2 Activity Level ..........................................................................................................3 Determining the Cause of Missed Fixes ..................................................................5 Food Habits ..............................................................................................................6 Study Area .............................................................................................................10 Methods...........................................................................................................................11 Missed Fix Analysis ...............................................................................................13 Activity Level Analysis .........................................................................................14 Activity Patterns.....................................................................................................15 Site Visit Analysis..................................................................................................16 Scat Analysis ..........................................................................................................18 Results .............................................................................................................................20 Missed Fix Analysis ...............................................................................................20 Activity Level Analysis .........................................................................................20 Activity Patterns.....................................................................................................21 Scat Analysis ..........................................................................................................22 Site Visit Analysis..................................................................................................23 Discussion .......................................................................................................................25 Literature Cited ...............................................................................................................54 2. BLACK BEAR ( URSUS AMERICANUS ) HABITAT USE IN SOUTHERN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK....................................................63 Abstract..........................................................................................................................63 Introduction ....................................................................................................................64 Home Range and Habitat Use ................................................................................65 Response to Human Influence ...............................................................................66 Study Area .............................................................................................................71 Methods...........................................................................................................................72 Home range Analysis .............................................................................................73 Habitat Use Analysis..............................................................................................74 Results .............................................................................................................................77 Home Range Analysis............................................................................................77 Habitat Use Analysis..............................................................................................78 Discussion .......................................................................................................................82 Literature Cited .............................................................................................................110 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED 3. SYNOPSIS……………...............................................................................................119 Introduction ..................................................................................................................119 Activity Patterns...................................................................................................120 Food Habits ..........................................................................................................123 Habitat Use...........................................................................................................126 Post hoc ................................................................................................................131 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................134 APPENDIX A: Food items identified at black bear site visits and in scats ....................140 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1.1 Results of AIC c for missed GPS fix models. ...................................................38 1.2. Regression of activity score and ambient temperature. ..................................39 1.3. Proportion black bears were active by month. ................................................40 1.4. Summary results of scat contents ....................................................................47 1.5. Summary results of scat contents by season. ..................................................48 1.6. Pianka’s index per season, sexes separate for scat analysis............................50 1.7. Pianka’s index per season, sexes combined for scat analysis. ........................50 1.8. Activities by forested areas .............................................................................52 1.9. Ungulate use by month ...................................................................................52 1.10. Pianka’s index per season, sexes separate for site visit analysis ..................53