Abstract
Recently, conflicts between Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and humans are increasing as bears expand their distribution. However, little is known about the biology of bears inhabiting near settlements. We fitted GPS collars on 7 bears during 2010–11, and by fitting the Switching State-Space Model, we smoothed error-prone GPS tracks and categorized bear behavior into transit, active stay, and inactive stay. Additionally, we investigated habitat characteristics by exploring active-stay core areas. On the whole, bears lived near settlements in summer and more distantly from settlements in autumn. However, there were exceptional bears staying more distantly in summer and near settlements in autumn. Near settlements, bears mainly foraged Juglans mandshurica and Castanea crenata in late summer and Diospyros kaki in autumn. In distant areas, bears foraged ants and Prunus spp. in late summer and Quercus mongolica in autumn. Bears’ nocturnal activity became higher near settlements. Our results indicated that bears come close to settlements in particular seasons according to seasonal changes in food availability. Bears were more likely to be near settlements if there were intensively distributed foods derived from humans nearby.
