Food preference testing of captive black bears
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1980 |
Authors: |
E. S. Bacon, G.M Burghardt |
Publication/Journal: |
Bears: Their Biology and Management |
Keywords: |
controlled conditions, food items, food preference, native food, non-native food, seminatural enclosure, ursus americanus, young captive female black bear |
Abstract:
A method was developed to test food preferences of 2 young captive female black bears (Ursus americanus) under controlled conditions. Two sets of food items (5 native and 7 non-native) were tested biweekly for 1 year in a seminatural enclosure in Tennessee. The bears exhibited definite preferences among both sets of foods. The preferences were significantly correlated between the bears and were consistent throughout the year. In the native food test, acorns (Quercus alba) were the most preferred. In the non-native food test, fish (Ictiobus sp.) was the most preferred food. The foods most highly preferred were rich in either protein or carbohydrates.