Incisor analysis technique to predict the gender of black bears damaging trees

摘要: Abstract Black bear (Ursus americanus) feeding on tree cambium is a forest management concern in the Pacific Northwest. Predicting gender of bears foraging could provide valuable insight for damage by focusing depredating bears. Equations were generated from dental impressions taken live captured western Washington State to classify that left incisor grooves freshly damaged trees. Males had wider primary, I1, ( 0.55 cm ±0.01, P=0.04) and secondary, I2, upper incisors (0.67 P=0.001) than female (0.49 ±0.02 0.58 ±0.01 , respectively). The widths individual trees measured compared measurements bears, revealing females 90% (88 98 with I1 impressions; 66 73 I2 impressions) sampled during 1996. Damage programs should target rather indiscriminately applied all age-gender classes.