title: Black Bear Reactions to Venomous and Non-venomous Snakes in Eastern North America.
abstract: Bears are often considered ecological equivalents of large primates, but the latter often respond with fear, avoidance, and alarm calls to snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, there is sparse information on how bears respond to snakes. We videotaped or directly observed natural encounters between black bears (Ursus americanus) and snakes. Inside the range of venomous snakes in Arkansas and West Virginia, adolescent and adult black bears reacted fearfully in seven of seven encounters upon becoming aware of venomous and non-venomous snakes; but in northern Michigan and Minnesota where venomous snakes have been absent for millennia, black bears showed little or no fear in four encounters with non-venomous snakes of three species. The possible roles of experience and evolution in bear reactions to snakes and vice versa are discussed. In all areas studied, black bears had difficulty to recognize non-moving snakes by smell or sight. Bears did not react until snakes moved in 11 of 12 encounters with non-moving timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) and four species of harmless snakes. However, in additional tests in this study, bears were repulsed by garter snakes that had excreted pungent anal exudates, which may help explain the absence of snakes, both venomous and harmless, in bear diets reported to date.
authors: Wildlife Research Institute Ely, MN, USA.
authors: Lynn L
authors: LL
authors: Rogers
authors: Wildlife Research Institute Ely, MN, USA.
authors: Susan A
authors: SA
authors: Mansfield
authors: Wildernest Inn Upper Tract, WV, USA.
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Hornby
authors: Wildernest Inn Upper Tract, WV, USA.
authors: Stewart
authors: S
authors: Hornby
authors: Anchorage, AK, USA.
authors: Terry D
authors: TD
authors: Debruyn
authors: USeeWildlife.Com Reserve Cabot, AR, USA.
authors: Malvin
authors: M
authors: Mize
authors: Department of Biology, San Diego State University San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Rulon
authors: R
authors: Clark
authors: Departments of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN, USA.
authors: Gordon M
authors: GM
authors: Burghardt
keywords: Crotalus horridus; Ursus americanus; behavior; black bear; diet; ophiophobia; rattlesnake; scent; snake
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