Steven G. Seibert

Information on winter movements and denning of Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus) is important to develop habitat management programs. I studied denning characteristics and winter movements of 13 radiocollared bears (9M, 4F) in the Apalachicola National Forest and surrounding timberlands of northwest Florida from 1990-91 to 1992-93. All monitored bears denned during the study. Pregnant females entered dens earlier (P < 0.02), emerged later (P < 0.02), and denned longer (142 ± 5 [SE] vs. 52 ± 7 days) than other bears. Denning periods for pregnant females were similar to...

Using radio collars on black bears (Ursus americanus) has greatly increased our knowledge of this species. Excessive body growth of collared bears can result in neck injuries from radio collars, however; therefore, techniques have been developed to resolve such problems. Three types of breakaway devices were used on black bear radio collars in Florida. Forty-eight collars (Telonics breakaway, TV = 10; surgical tubing breakaway, JV = 11; leather spacer breakaway, TV = 27) were placed on bears in the Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests. Collar life averaged 163 ± 22 (SE) days (TV = 4),...