Foods of Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Eagle TC. 1979. Foods of Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee
Seasonal foods form the diet of bears and there were five seasonal patterns. In early spring, grass and herbs were nearly exclusive of all other foods. In late spring, fruits such as serviceberry and squawroot were utilized, along with insects and some small mammals. The summer diet was largely of berries (blueberries, huckleberries, blackberries, and other soft mast), as well as some grasses and herbs. In early fall, black cherry and sassafras fruit were most important. In late fall, acorns were heavily utilized, along with other foods from other seasons that were still available. Throughout the year, insects, small mammals, carrion, and garbage were taken opportunistically.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Eagle, Thomas
- Date of Issue
- 1979-06
- Publisher
- University of Tennessee
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Black Bear, Diet, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00025, GRSM-01753, scat, SER, Southeast Region, Thesis, Ursus americanus