Morphology, reproduction, food habits, crop depredation, and mortality of black bears on the Neuse-Pamlico peninsula, North Carolina

Black bear research was conducted on the Neuse-Pamlico peninsula of coastal North Carolina from May 1992 to June 1994 to examine morphology, reproduction, food habits, crop depredation and mortality parameters. Eighty-nine bears were captured 102 times. Sex ratios were nearly 1:1. Harvested bears were significantly older than captured bears. Neuse-Pamlico bears had high body growth rates when compared with bears from other areas. Breeding began for most females at 2.5 years of age although first time breeders were less successful than older bears. Mean litter size (x = 2.4) was less than would be expected in an area with such abundant dependable food sources. Seasonal diets were heavily dependent on agricultural crops such as wheat, corn, and soybeans and diets of adult males in fall were predominantly crop foods (86%). Diets of adult female and sub-adult diets contained significantly less crop foods, however, suggesting that adult males precluded use of agricultural fields by other bears during fall. Natural foods predominantly eaten by bears were plants associated with disturbed areas, except for black gum berries in the fall. The loss of naturally occurring food items has forced bears to rely on agricultural foods for a large percentage of their diet. Crop species changes or conversion of cropland to other uses would be very detrimental to bears because there would not be enough natural foods available on an annual basis to support the current population. Corn damage caused by bears was greatest during the milk stage in mid-July and decreased until the corn was harvested. Over half the farmers questioned on the Neuse-Pamlico peninsula had crops damaged by bears in 1993 with corn as the major crop loss in terms of acreage and dollars. A small percentage (0.6%) of the total crop acreage was damaged by bears; however the loss of other natural food sources, especially black gum may cause crop depredation to increase. One hundred and ten bears were harvested by hunters during the two-year period. Most bears were harvested adjacent to agricultural crops. All adult males were harvested in the morning by still hunters, whereas females, younger and smaller bears were generally harvested in the afternoon. Any future changes to black bear hunting seasons must take into account how hunting methodology affects the sex and age structure of the harvest. Twenty-seven additional bears were lost to other mortality factors, principally road kills.