• Lamb, Gary R.
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

A radio-telemetry study of home range and habitat of female black bears (Ursus americanus) was conducted in an area of northern Maine. The study area (Spectacle Pond) had a lightly hunted bear population with extensive logging and limited recreation being the major land use activities. Data from 5 bears showed softwood and hardwood types were avoided when tests of use vs availability were made for the entire study area. Examination of use vs availability of cover types within the home ranges of these bears showed softwood-hardwood and mixed wood types were preferred. Average home range for the bears was 2469 ha (range 1755-3999 ha). Extensive summer and early fall movements were observed and bears denned earlier than usual in 1981 in response to a poor beechnut cop.