Rapid growth of a black bear subpopulation in the eastern panhandle of Florida

Abstract

The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is an ecologically and culturally valuable subspecies of the American black bear inhabiting parts of the southeastern United States. It was listed by the State of Florida as Threatened from 1974 to 2012. Over recent decades, black bear abundance and range have increased in Florida, alongside a growing human population, and management goals in some regions of the state have shifted from recovery to coexistence. This study measured the survival and fecundity of different age classes and calculated the growth rate of the Apalachicola subpopulation of black bears in the eastern panhandle of Florida using data collected from 2016 to 2019. Our results indicate a rapid growth rate of 11.9% annually for this subpopulation, driven primarily by high adult female survival (91.5% annually), typical cub survival (65.5% annually), and typical fecundity (0.61 female cubs/litter). Averages for these vital rates in eastern North America were 82% for adult female survival, 65% for cub survival, and 0.58 for female cubs/litter. Our results highlight the ability of black bear populations to rebound when provided with suitable habitat and legal protection. Information from this study may be used to tailor management strategies in this region so that managers can better accommodate increasing bear abundance while minimizing conflicts with humans.