Louisiana Black Bear
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_black_bear
The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus), one of 16 subspecies of the American black bear. It was classified as 'threatened' under the U.S. Endangered Species Act from 1992–2016. The validity of this subspecies has been repeatedly debated.
Distribution
The Louisiana black bear is found in parts of Louisiana, mainly along the Mississippi River Valley and the Atchafalaya River Basin. The Louisiana black bear historically occurred in Louisiana, Mississippi, East Texas and Arkansas. Four areas are currently known to have populations of the black bear: St. Mary Parish and Iberia Parish in south Louisiana, Pointe Coupee Parish in central Louisiana, the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area in Concordia and Avoyelles. Parishes, in east-central Louisiana Tensas, Madison, and West Carroll Parishes in northeast Louisiana. The Louisiana black bear can travel for long distances and has been sighted in many areas of Louisiana not normally considered bear habitat. Occurrences are reported from East Texas and subpopulations have expanded into Mississippi. Black bears have been sighted in Kisatchie National Forest,[10] Allen Parish, Natchitoches Parish, East Baton Rouge, and Bossier City.
Habitat
Range has expanded into upland areas including piney woods habitat west and east of the Mississippi River. Generally require the dense cover and diversity of food resources that healthy forests provide. Food quantity and quality are important factors in determining where black bears live.
Description
The subspecies does not have a substantially different appearance than the nominate U. americanus americanus, but the skull is relatively long, narrow and flat and the molars are proportionately large. The fur color is usually black, but a cinnamon phase is known to exist. The black bear is a large, bulky mammal with long black hair and a short, hairy tail. Black bears have a blunt facial profile, small eyes, and a broad nose pad with large nostrils. Like all bears, they are plantigrade (flat-footed). They have five toes on each foot, with short, curved claws on the front and hind feet. The front claws are longer than the rear claws. Their weight varies considerably. Adult males average between 300 and 400 pounds but can weigh more than 500 pounds. Adult females average 120 to 200 pounds.
Size
The median estimated weight for male and female Louisiana black bears in north Louisiana is 292 lb (133 kg) and 147 lb (67 kg). Adult males may weigh 300 to 400 pounds or more, and adult females 120 to over 180 pounds. Body length of adults ranges from 4 to 7 feet.
Diet
Although classified as carnivores, black bears are best described as opportunistic omnivores because they eat almost anything that is available, including vegetation, berries, insects, and nuts that naturally occur in forests and other productive ecosystems. In Louisiana, black bears rely heavily on soft mast such as blackberries, dewberries, and leaf buds during spring and early summer. In late summer, Louisiana black bears still forage on berries but also eat agricultural crops like corn, a non-native agricultural crop, comprised the majority of black bear diets during late summer (33.3%) and early fall (30.6%). In late fall, bears mainly feed on hard mast (fruit of forest trees) such as oaks and hickories, as well as palmetto fruit and corn. During winter, there is very little hard mast available. As a result, bears that are active during winter primarily eat grass and herbaceous vegetation; they also scavenge for leftover acorns and pecans. Throughout all seasons, Louisiana black bear frequently eat beetles and other insects. From examining bear scat, researchers found evidence that bears in the Tensas River Basin subpopulation feed on wild hogs and white-tailed deer in the fall. Bears living at southern latitudes also often eat colonial species such as honeybees and their nests.
Hibernation
Black bears do not truly hibernate. Instead, they go through a dormancy period called “carnivoran lethargy”—a prolonged period of inactivity that enables bears to survive food shortages and adverse weather conditions during the winter (December through March). During this time, a bear’s body temperature drops, metabolism decreases by half, and heart rate is reduced. Dormant bears do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. At southern latitudes with warmer climates, such as Louisiana, where some natural foods are available during the winter, some males remain active. In Louisiana, bears den in heavy cover or tree cavities during the winter. They select dens based on habitat type and proximity to water. They enter dens between November and early January, depending on latitude, food availability, gender, age, reproductive status, and weather conditions.
Reproduction and development
Black bears typically breed during the summer (May through August). Females first reproduce around 2 to 3 years of age; males typically do not reach reproductive maturity until they are 3 to 4 years old. The average litter size for Louisiana black bears is two, although litters three to five cubs have been documented. Pregnant females give birth to cubs in their dens, forcing them to den during the winter regardless of food availability or weather conditions. Adult females that are expected to give birth to cubs generally enter dens first, followed by adult females with yearlings (cubs less than two years old), female subadults, male subadults, and finally adult males. At the end of the dormancy period (March through April), females with cubs are usually the last to leave the den. Cubs den with their mother the following winter as yearlings and remain with their mother until they are 15 to 18 months old.
DO NOT GO TO THE POSTED CORDS. YOU WILL NOT FIND THE CACHE THERE. YOU NEED TO SOLVE FOR THE CORRECT CORDS.
Please remember you are in Greene County, PA and satellite service is not the best. So, plan accordingly to have a good caching experience.
****Please be cautious when doing these caches as they are hidden along busy highways. Caches are kid friendly but hides are not necessarily kid friendly. Caution is highly suggested. ****
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