Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
15 October 2009 Selective Foraging for Anthropogenic Resources by Black Bears: Minivans in Yosemite National Park
Stewart W. Breck, Nathan Lance, Victoria Seher
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Black bears (Ursus americanus) forage selectively in natural environments. To determine if bears also forage selectively for anthropogenic resources we analyzed data on vehicles broken into by bears from Yosemite National Park, California. We classified vehicles into 9 categories based on their make and model and collected data on use (2001–2007) and availability (2004–2005). From 2001 to 2007 bears broke into 908 vehicles at the following rates: minivan (26.0%), sport–utility vehicle (22.5%), small car (17.1%), sedan (13.7%), truck (11.9%), van (4.2%), sports car (1.7%), coupe (1.7%), and station wagon (1.4%). Only use of minivans (29%) during 2004–2005 was significantly higher than expected (7%). We discuss several competing hypotheses about why bears selected minivans.

Stewart W. Breck, Nathan Lance, and Victoria Seher "Selective Foraging for Anthropogenic Resources by Black Bears: Minivans in Yosemite National Park," Journal of Mammalogy 90(5), 1041-1044, (15 October 2009). https://doi.org/10.1644/08-MAMM-A-056.1
Received: 11 February 2009; Accepted: 1 February 2009; Published: 15 October 2009
KEYWORDS
black bear
conflict
humans
minivan
resource selection
Ursus americanus
Yosemite National Park
Back to Top