Technical Bulletin No. 0645: Predicting Black Bear Habitat Selection from Food Abundance Under Three Forest Management Systems

Food is considered to be a primary influence on black bear (Ursus americanus) habitat selection, however relative abundance of foods among habitats is rarely quantified. We measured seasonal food abundance within 17 habitats in the central Adirondack Mountains of New York and used food abundance indices to predict habitat selection. Managed habitats provided the highest abundance of spring foods and summer fruit.