Testing Optimal Foraging of Black Bears at Bait Sites: the Influence of Bait Density
Wildlife Ecology and Management Jena Garceau
Anthropogenic baiting sites offer a unique opportunity to test optimal foraging theory. Foraging decisions related to behaviors at bait sites have been shown to follow optimal foraging in some species; however, tests concerning other species are lacking. In northern Wisconsin, black bears ( Ursus americanus ) have many bait sites available to them during the summer and fall months as they enter hyperphagia. We used game cameras to collect videos of bears from bait sites within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northwestern Wisconsin. We are analyzing foraging behaviors in the videos to determine the percentage of time bears spent eating at sites. In order to determine the density of bait sites available to bears, we thoroughly searched the area within a 2.3km radius around each of our monitored sites. If bears follow optimal foraging theory, we expect they will spend less time eating at bait sites that have a high density of other sites surrounding them. Fitting bear foraging to a model can help us begin to understand the ecological impact bait sites may have on bear foraging decisions.
Advisors: Hayden Walkush Cady Sartini, Ph.D. Paul Schilke, Ph.D.
Subject Area: Wildlife
Type: Oral
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UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources
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