Bears (Ursidae) have extensive home ranges and may move long distances, thereby potentially serving as hosts to, and vectors of, large numbers of ticks. We assessed the composition of the parasitizing tick community on American black bears (Ursus americanus) to discern hard tick species capable of successfully feeding, which is a necessary step for tick reproduction. We counted ticks from free-ranging, live-trapped, or road-killed black bears in southern Missouri, USA, during 2015, and collected a subset of engorged ticks (n = 967). All bears (n = 17) were infected with ticks (n = 6,993), with a mean intensity of 411 ticks/bear, of which 14% were engorged females. The infracommunity size of engorged ticks was 57 ticks/bear. From these engorged ticks, we identified 5 species: Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, D. albipictus, and Ixodes scapularis. Amblyomma americanum was the most common species, collected on all surveyed bears, and represented 58.2% of engorged ticks, whereas D. albipictus and A. maculatum were the least common species, collected from only 3 and 4 bears, respectively, and representing 4.7% and 2.4% of engorged ticks, respectively. Our data suggest that individual black bears have the potential to host large numbers of ticks to engorgement, and may be important vectors for tick dispersal and for the maintenance of tick populations.

Understanding biological and ecological requirements of small populations of American black bears (Ursus americanus) is important for maintaining or promoting population growth. During 2012–2015, we studied reproductive biology, cub survival, and den selection of black bears in an isolated population in central Georgia, USA. We visited dens of 15 females and documented production of 39 cubs of the year (COY). We tracked and obtained visual observations of COY for 11 family units (19 COY) to estimate survival for a 6-month period. Cub survival for the first 6 months of life was 0.765 ± 0.102 (mean ± SE). We assessed effects of microhabitat and landscape characteristics on den selection. We found that early successional habitats associated with upland forests were important to denning females, presumably because of their higher elevation and availability of dense understory vegetation.

Understanding the timing of den emergence and departure allows management agencies to establish hunting seasons that minimize the take of females with dependent young, protects denned bears from human disturbances, and extends our understanding of the ecology of these mammals. We determined the mean den emergence date ( = 25 Mar), the number of days at the den site post-emergence ( = 11 days), and the mean den departure date ( = 8 Apr) for female American black bears in Utah, USA, from 2011 to 2013. We analyzed the effects of bear cohort, region of Utah, year, elevation, and weather on emergence, departure, and total number of days at den site post-emergence using model selection and model-averaging. First emergence date (n = 37) differed among cohorts and was negatively correlated with spring temperature. Den departure date (n = 21) differed among ecoregions and was negatively correlated with spring temperature during emergence and temperature the spring and summer before denning. Total number of days at den (n = 21) differed among cohorts and was negatively correlated with last frost date in spring from year before. We also described behaviors observed at the den site. Bears spent little of the late-denning period outside of the den ( = 9.8% of total observation time). When outside the den, bears spent the majority of the time walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. We also observed several unique behaviors including gathering nest materials, nursing, ingesting, and visitation of den sites by other wildlife.

Planning for human–carnivore coexistence requires detailed understanding of the ecological and sociological circumstances associated with conflict, particularly in multi-use, human-dominated landscapes. We investigated the influence of socio-ecological factors on human–sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) conflict in a human-dominated landscape of Balasore Wildlife Division, eastern India. We examined human–sloth bear conflict data from 12 years (2002–2013) and assessed the attitudes of the people toward sloth bears through semi-structured interviews with 350 people. We recorded 167 human–sloth bear conflict incidents, including 201 human casualties (4 deaths, 104 permanent injuries, and 93 minor injuries) and 7 retaliatory killings of sloth bears. More human–sloth bear conflict occurred during the monsoon season (Jul to Oct) than in other seasons. Monsoon is the peak growing season, when villagers spent more time outdoors farming, including near forest. In addition, lack of toilets in the villages may increase vulnerability of humans to sloth bear attacks. Most people considered sloth bears to be unpredictable and dangerous, which suggests protection and conservation activities may not retain public support. Approaches to mitigate human–sloth bear conflict should emphasize avoiding sloth bears when they are sighted and conducting activities near forests during the day and in groups when possible. Strategies such as improving sanitation facilities, developing effective compensation schemes, forming conflict management teams, and establishing sloth bear conservation awareness programs for villagers, as well as improving cooperation among various stakeholders, are necessary to foster human–sloth bear coexistence.

The reproductive tracts of 130 adult female brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Hokkaido, Japan, euthanized during 2010–2013 for conflict management, were examined for the presence and number of corpora lutea (CL) in the ovary and placental scars (PS) in the uterine horns. We scored PS on a 0–5 scale based on morphological features including their rim and color. They were characterized as representing either current-year parturition, as determined by accompanying cubs, or previous-year parturition, as determined by accompanying yearlings. In total, 128 females were divided into 3 reproductive categories: 44 females with current-year parturition, 39 with previous-year parturition, and 45 solitary females that had not given birth for >2 years. The estimated ovulation rate was 2.21 ± 0.55 (mean ± SD), the implantation rate was 1.91 ± 0.74, and the litter size was 1.54 ± 0.51. Implantation rates were lower than ovulation rates and changed annually during 2010–2013. Systematic observation of PS and CL allowed us to evaluate the reproductive history and parameters in Hokkaido brown bears and ascertain their annual variation.

In Italy, the reintroduction of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) has created conflicts with people because bears may damage livestock, crops, or honey farms. These damages—and their financial costs—are sometimes used as an argument by those who oppose the presence of this carnivore. Despite such damages, bears can provide economic benefits, such as attracting eco-tourists for bear-watching. The Advertising Value Equivalent was used to assess the value of the bears’ appearances in newscasts and documentaries from 2011 to 2015. The marketing value of the bear as a promoter largely exceeds the amount of reimbursements for damages. This method can be used to highlight the economic benefit that the bear can produce for a destination and contribute to complex discussions with managers and stakeholders.

Very little is known about marking behavior of the endangered Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus). Here, we present a first detailed description of Andean bear marking behavior obtained using camera traps. From November 2012 to April 2013, we inspected 16 bear trails in the Napo province of eastern Ecuador, and installed camera traps (n = 3) at marking sites to document their marking behavior. We obtained 22 video recordings of Andean bears, all of which were captured during daytime. Almost all recordings (n = 18) contained behavior associated with marking. Tree-rubbing was the main behavioral display at marking sites, and consisted of 4 common activities: (1) tree-sniffing, (2) rubbing the neck and/or shoulders, (3) rubbing the flanks, and (4) rubbing the back. Bears also claw-marked and urinated while rubbing trees. We only observed scent-marking from males. Consistent with other bear species, we suggest that Andean bears communicate intra-specifically through their marking behavior.

Water is essential for hydration in American black bears (Ursus americanus) and other species; however, its role in thermoregulation is poorly understood. In 2010, we established a network of remote cameras to monitor wildlife in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, USA. One of our objectives was to document and describe American black bear behavior at natural and artificial water sources. We detected male and female adult, subadult, and cub of year black bears immersing in water sources to thermoregulate. Bear use was concentrated at one livestock tank, one road puddle, and one pond in areas with relatively little human disturbance. Bear use steadily increased over summer, peaking in late summer when ambient temperatures were high and fat layers were thick. Our results demonstrate that water is an important thermoregulatory resource for some bear populations, though more research is needed to understand how ursids use behavioral thermoregulation to dissipate excess body heat and avoid hyperthermia.