Kenkéknem (Ursus americanus, American Black Bear) foraging habits at a ski area in Skwelkwék’welt, south-central Secwepemcúl’ecw

Résumé

We used scat analysis to study the foraging habits of kenkéknem (Ursus americanus, American Black Bear) at Sun Peaks Ski Resort in Skwelkwék’welt, south-central Secwepemcúl’ecw, from May to late August 2023. The 20 scats (three in May, 10 in June, four in July, and three in August) showed the bears consumed largely green vegetation in the spring (1 May–21 June), scwicwéye (ants, primarily wood-nesting species) in early summer (22 June–31 July), and máts̓pe7 (wasps) and berries in late summer (1–30 August). Some vertebrate predation on voles (Microtus spp.) and other rodents was found. The most common vegetation in scats in spring was xwixwyúy̓sten (Equisetum spp., horsetail), which grows well in wet disturbed environments, such as the edge of ski trails. Wood-nesting ant species provided an important food source for bears in early and late summer. Given the importance of ants to the summer diet of bears, we recommend forest management in Skwelkwék’welt consider the importance of woody debris in providing suitable ant habitat.