Black Bear Harvest and Nuisance Behavior in Response to Gypsy Moth Infestation
Yearly food supplies influence black bear (Ursus americanus) harvest and nuisance behavior. During 1987-1990, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) infestation in northwestern Virginia, especially in Shenandoah National Park (SNP), resulted in widespread defoliation, acorn failure, and subsequent alterations in bear behavior. We believed canopy opening and especially acorn failure would lead to increased hunter harvest and nuisance behavior in defoliated regions of Virginia. In the defoliated region of Virginia, 138 ± 12 bears/yr and 220 ± 12 bears/yr were harvested before (1980-1986) and during...
