Weights and hematology of wild black bears during hibernation
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
By: Glenn D. DelGiudice, Lynn L. Rogers, Arthur W. Allen, and U. S. Seal
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Abstract
We compared weights and hematological profiles of adult (greater than 3-yr-old) female black bears (Ursus americanus) during hibernation (after 8 January). We handled 28 bears one to four times (total of 47) over 4 yr of varying mast and berry production. Mean weight of lactating bears was greater (P less than 0.0001) than that of non-lactating females. White blood cells (P less than 0.05) and mean corpuscular volume (P = 0.005) also differed between lactating and non-lactating bears. Hemoglobin (P = 0.006) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.02) varied among years; values were lowest during 1975, following decreased precipitation and the occurrence of a second year of mast and berry crop shortages in a three-year period. Significant (P less than 0.05) interaction between reproductive status (lactating versus non-lactating) and study year for hemoglobin, red blood cells, and packed cell volume, and increased mean corpuscular volume, suggested a greater nutritional challenge for lactating females compared to non-lactating females during the 1975 denning season. Our data suggest that hematological characteristics of denning bears may be more sensitive than weights as indicators of annual changes in nutritional status; however, other influential factors, in addition to mast and berry crop production, remain to be examined.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Weights and hematology of wild black bears during hibernation |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 1991 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wildlife Disease Association |
| Publisher location | Lawrence, KS |
| Description | 6 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
| First page | 637 |
| Last page | 642 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |