Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2004
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
Committee Chair
James T. Anderson
Committee Co-Chair
John W. Edwards
Abstract
During 2003, 11 male and 1 female black bear (Ursus americanus) were captured and fitted with radio collars. Individuals were randomly assigned to receive either treatment (n = 6) or control (n = 6). Upon release, treatment individuals received a conditional regimen comprised of rubber buckshot to the flank and a succession of shell crackers. Physical and auditory conditioning techniques we used did not appear to be an effective means of reducing repeat nuisance behavior.;West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) captured 179 (151 males, 28 females) nuisance and 156 (77 males, 79 females) non-nuisance individuals from 1996 to 2003.;We calculated the relationship of chest-girth circumference with weight (r2 = 0.92) among 335 black bears from southern West Virginia. Unlike previous studies, we report separate predictive equations regarding weight based on girth for both sex and behavior type; nuisance males [Weight = -150.382 + (2.546 x girth)], nuisance females [Weight = -49.446 + (1.350 x girth)], non-nuisance males [Weight = -102.225 + (2.020 x girth)], and non-nuisance females [Weight = -73.297 + (1.644 x girth)]. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).
Recommended Citation
Weaver, Harley Wayne, "Biometric analysis and aversive conditioning of black bears in southern West Virginia" (2004). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 2056.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/2056