A review of black bear (Ursus americanus) diets over a year in the northwest

Citation

Henry BA, Gibson A, and Case A. 2019. A review of black bear (Ursus americanus) diets over a year in the northwest. In Brooks M, Freel T, Koutsos E Eds. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Saint Louis, MO.

Abstract

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park proposed a novel diet to meet nutritional and behavioral needs of their black bears (Ursus americanus) over a period of one year. The diet was changed monthly to mimic free-ranging black bear habits by offering whole foods in a nutritionally balanced diet. Additionally, instead of a daily diet plan, an annual diet with weekly ranges of food items was proposed. The diet, therefore, would create enriching feeding opportunities based on seasonal variation by encouraging active foraging and food manipulation as well as providing for the caloric demands based on seasonal metabolic needs ranging from hyperphagia to hibernation. The diet was outlined into the following groups: greens, fruit, vegetables, manufactured food, fish, nuts/seeds, insects, and meat for the analysis. The bears were weighed monthly except during hibernation. Before the diet was analyzed for comparison to a target range, diet changes were proposed and then tested to monitor consumption and body mass changes making this a two-year process. Adjustments are still needed to accommodate individual variations. Overall the bears took to the new diet plan well, and it allowed for seasonal body weight changes that were outlined.

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