Proximity of Adult Female Black Bears to Limited Access Roads

Seven adult female black bears (Ursus americanus) were radio monitored from 1980 to 1982 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bears showed no avoidance of limited access roads and trails, frequently crossed roads and trails during any given 24-hour period, and used areas around them. Response to seasonally abundant food supplies, rather than avoidance or other behavioral adjustments by individual bears, seemed to determine whether bears crossed roads and trails and used areas around them in this protected population.