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Black Bear Monitoring and Research Study

The southern bear study was initiated in 1999 to gather demographic information from bears in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, and Raleigh counties and to learn more about bears captured as a result of nuisance behavior. Bear seasons have been modified within southern West Virginia based primarily on data collected through this monitoring and research project. In addition to the trapping effort in southern West Virginia, the Division of Natural Resources reallocated part of its resources to include monitoring the traditional mountain counties. The northern study area is centered in Randolph and Tucker counties and includes parts of Barbour, Grant, and Webster.

Wildlife managers have handled 395 adult bears 765 times on the southern study area since 1999. Bears handled during nuisance complaints were given orange ear tags so that they could be easily identified; whereas, bears caught specifically on research trap lines for the purpose of marking additional bears were tagged with black ear tags. DNR personnel observed 174 (73M: 81F: 20U) cubs during winter den checks to total 569 bears handled during the study period. Mean total litter size was 2.81 cubs (range 1-5, n = 62). Older ( ≥ 5 years; = 3.05) female bears had larger litters than younger females ( = 2.07, SE = 0.195). There were 5 litters of 1 cub, 16 litters of 2 cubs, 29 litters of 3 cubs, 10 litters of 4 cubs, and 2 litters of 5 cubs. Sixty-eight of 69 (98%) available females produced cubs. Sample sizes differed because managers heard cubs at some dens but did not get a reliable cub count. Interbirth interval was 1.76 years (SE = 0.122, n = 13). Eleven of the 13 females produced cubs on a 2-year cycle. One female of unknown age produced cubs in consecutive years and total litter loss was assumed. One female had both a yearling and cub in the den with her. These reproductive numbers represent one of the highest reproducing populations in the United States .

Wildlife managers in districts 4 and 5 intensified their efforts to trap additional bears in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to evaluate the extended seasons in southern West Virginia and provide accurate harvest rates. Prior to the 2004 hunting season there were 97 bears tagged in 2004 or were still wearing their radio transmitters from previous years. Seventy-two (35M: 37F) of the 97 (57M: 40F) bears were in the 4-county study area and considered available for harvest in 2004. Most of the additional bears outside of the study area were trapped and relocated as part of normal DNR activities. Twenty-eight females and 2 males were equipped with working radio transmitters at the start of the 2004 hunting season.

None of the 37 females and eleven of 35 males (31%) in the study area were reported dead during the 2004 hunting season.

There were 16 known deaths of tagged bears during the 2004 hunting season in the southern study area. These known deaths were a combination of bears tagged during the entire study period that have not been previously reported. The early November dog season was the most effective at harvesting bears, as 12 of the 16 known deaths occurred during this special season. Eleven (9M: 2F) research and 1 male nuisance bears were harvested during this season. Archery hunters harvested 2 male research bears and 1 male nuisance bear. Gun hunters harvested 0 bears during the late November season without dogs and 1 tagged bear during the December season.

Wildlife managers in districts 1 and 3 marked 79 (45M: 34F) bears during 2004 to gather demographic data on the bear population in our traditional counties. Seventy bears (39M : 31F) were available inside the study for harvest during the 2004 season. Three (10%) females and 7 (18%) males died after October 1. In addition to the direct harvested bears, there were 10 bears killed after October 1 that had been previously tagged or had been moved outside the study area. Researchers will be conducting den visits in spring 2005 to examine the reproductive rates in our northern study area and to mark additional bears.

The West Virginia Black Bear Monitoring and Research Project graciously accepted 3 donations from private groups during this fiscal year. The Camp Fire Conservation Fund, Inc., the West Virginia Bowhunters Association, and the West Virginia Trophy Hunters Association have all donated money to help us buy additional radio transmitters. Their support of our natural resources and projects help to demonstrate the cooperation between the WVDNR and multiple groups. We thank them for their continued support.

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