Biometric analysis and aversive conditioning of black bears in southern West Virginia

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.)...