Movements and Rates of Return of Translocated Black Bears in Virginia

From 1970 to 1984, 540 black bears (Ursus americanus) were trapped and released. Of the 540 bears captured, 240 were released at the trap site and 300 were translocated to different areas. A total of 186 bears were recovered, most of them legally harvested by hunters. Trap, release, and recovery sites were plotted on topographic maps and a computer program was used to calculate distances between map coordinates. Nonrelocated bears were recovered an average of 19.6 km from the area where they were trapped. Large males (> 136 kg) were recovered significantly farther from their capture locations (x̄ = 38.6 km, P < 0.05) than other nonrelocated bears. Among translocated bears, females were recovered significantly farther (P < 0.05) from their capture site than were males. Translocated bears were recovered an average of 58.2 km from original capture site and 27.7 km from their release location. Bears translocated more than 80 km were recovered significantly farther from their capture site (x̄= 100.8 km, P < 0.05) than all other bears. Approximately 23% of the translocated bears were recovered within an angle defining the home direction. Twelve bears reached home before being recovered. All bears that returned home were males. Results of this study suggest that relocation distances of less than 80 km are effective for relocating Virginia black bears.