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KEYWORDS: Asiatic black bears, bed sites, canopy openness, cover, horizontal visibility, human disturbance, Japanese Central Alps, Mountains, Ursus thibetanus
Although sleeping is essential for animals, little is known about the characteristics of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) bed sites (resting sites). We studied bed-site selection of Asiatic black bears in the Central Alps, Japan, 2021–2022, by monitoring 12 GPS-collared bears and examining 56 bed sites. We assessed horizontal visibility, canopy openness, and dominant vegetation at both bed and control sites, accounting for season and time of day. Findings suggest bears prefer bed sites at the base of thick trees, such as Japanese red pines (Pinus densiflora) and Japanese larches (Larix kaempferi). Bed sites with low visibility were chosen during spring or autumn, corresponding with higher human activity, but not in summer. Proximity to foods, particularly in broad-leaved forests with abundant food such as buds, leaves, and acorn seeds, may influence bed-site selection during spring or autumn. Both sexes showed similar trends. This implies the interplay of safety and food access in Asiatic black bear bed-site selection.
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