M. R. Vaughan

Conservation and Management of Isolated Black Bear Populations in the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States

Developing black bear (Ursus americanus) conservation strategies for the southeastern United States is critical because of increasing habitat fragmentation. Ecological and demographic data collected from a black bear population in Great Dismal Swamp has provided insight into development of these strategies. One strategy is maintaining large, contiguous forest tracts with minimal human disturbance. Identification, maintenance, and enhancement of key habitat patches, such as pocosins and mesic islands, also are important. Remote sensing data can identify corridors among relatively disjunct...

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...

Social Grouping of White-tailed Deer in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

During 1982, 3,095 social groups of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were observed in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Both time of day (dawn, day, dusk, and night) and season of the year (spring, fawning, summer, breeding, and winter) had a significant effect on total deer/ group and numbers of adults, adult females, and adult males. Group size was largest at dusk (mean 2.7, range of 1 to 28), and slightly smaller at night (2.4, 1 to 21), at dawn (2.3, 1 to 10), and during the day (2.3, 1 to 13). Seasonally, group size was largest in winter (mean 3.4, range of 1 to 28)....