Food Habits of the Brown Bear in Hokkaido (I)

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  • 北海道におけるヒグマの食性について (I)
  • ホッカイドウ ニ オケル ヒグマ ノ ショクセイ ニ ツイテ 1

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The food habits of brown bears, Ursus arctos yesoensis, in Hokkaido (Japan) were investigated during 1975-1982 by 1) analysis of scat and stomach contents, 2) visual field observations as well as from 3) damages to crops and livestock. The inhabitable range of brown bears in Hokkaido is almost restricted to the mountainous and hilly forest areas, that occupy about a half of the island. Brown bears are omnivorous, feeding on natural harbs, fruits, and wild-animals including insects. Some individuals eat crops and livestock, and very rarely even humans. In food preferance, they were either vegetarian, carnivorous, or omnivorous, often being strongly selective of kinds and parts of food. Irrespective of the amount or distribution of food items, their feeding activities were quite different sometimes eating greedily, while foraging sporadically at other times. At about the age of 4 months, new-born cubs started eating the same food as their mother in addition to its mother's milk. The food difference was recognized between bears in different habitats, such as high montain regions and lowlands. They stayed in high mountain regions during the period when they could find enough food after melting of the snow. When they killed other bear, deer, livestock or man or gathered gained crops, they frequently transferred them to their favorite places and concealed the carcass with soil, fallen leaves, chopped long harbs, etc.

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