Characteristics of a Central Arizona Black Bear Population

Abstract

A demographic study of black bears (U. americanus) was conducted in the Four Peaks area of central Arizona from 1973-1978. Fifty-five bears were captured 100 times during the study. Population estimates indicated a density of 1 bear/3.0 km2 on the 120-km2 study area. Of the population, 71% were adults, with an average age of 8.1 yr. Population density was apparently limited by habitat quality, with nutrition, subadult dispersal and cannibalism of younger bears by resident adults contributing to the regulation of bear numbers.