Harley Wayne Weaver

Physical and Behavioral Characteristics of Nuisance and Non-nuisance Black Bears in Southern West Virginia

Increased interactions among humans and black bears (Ursus americanus) are spurring increased concerns over property damage and human safety. These concerns become more apparent with habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly in relation to urban situations. To better understand the behavior and ecology of nuisance and non-nuisance black bears, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) captured 152 (127 males, 25 females) nuisance and 118 (61 males, 57 females) non-nuisance individuals from 1996 to 2002. Sample sizes for each analysis were lower due to missing or incomplete...