Abstract
American black bears (Ursus americanus) are opportunistic omnivores with diets that vary seasonally and geographically depending on food availability. Previous scat analyses across several populations suggest that the majority of animal material in the diet of black bears is from insects (mainly ants and wasps). In 2015, a black bear in Yosemite National Park was observed eating dragonflies, a previously unidentified insect food item. Emerging aquatic insects may be an important but overlooked aspect of black bear diet. Documenting the food sources of organisms is critical to understanding their natural history and ecology. In the case of highly digestible food items, visual observation is an important and underrepresented tactic for documenting diet.
Los osos negros americanos (Ursus americanus) son omnívoros oportunistas con dietas que varían estacional y geográficamente dependiendo de la disponibilidad de alimento. Análisis previos basados en heces de varias poblaciones, sugieren que la dieta de los osos negros contiene en su mayoría insectos, principalmente hormigas y avispas. En 2015 se observó a un oso negro, en el Parque Nacional de Yosemite, comiendo libélulas, un alimento no identificado previamente; los insectos acuáticos pueden ser un componente importante, pero poco estudiado, de la dieta del oso negro. La documentación de las fuentes de alimento de los organismos es fundamental para comprender su historia natural y su ecología. En el caso de alimentos altamente digeribles, la observación visual es una táctica importante y poco utilizada para documentar la dieta.
Recommended Citation
Moeller, Karla T.; Moeller, Alina K.; Moyano, Francisca; and Lundgren, Erick J.
(2017)
"Observation of an American black bear eating odonates in Yosemite National Park,"
Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 77:
No.
1, Article 9.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol77/iss1/9
Photo of American Black Bear foraging among sedges, Dog Lake, Yosemite National Park.
77.1.9 Supplementary Material 2.pdf (762 kB)
Photo of emergent dragonflies and exuviae on sedges, Dog Lake, Yosemite National Park.