Breeding behavior of the American black bear Ursus americanus

摘要

By means of videotape, we observed and timed courtship, mating, and refractoriness in the American black bear while confined in a semicaptive environment. Sixty-six courtships resulted in mating. During courtship, the male detected estrus and receptivity in the female. Courtship lasted 22.5 +/- 2.3 s (mean +/- S.E.M.). We videotaped and reviewed 61 matings that included mounts, pelvic thrusts, and flutters. Mating lasted 51.6 +/- 4.2 s. Within these 61 matings, there were 24 pelvic thrusts and 14 flutters observed. Pelvic thrusts averaged 2.3 +/- 0.3 times, while flutters averaged 11.1 +/- 2.9 times. Of the 61 courtship-mating segments, 28 segments depicted a male refractory period, while 27 segments depicted a female refractory period. The male refractory period lasted 44.9 +/- 6.1 s during which the male sat and licked his genital region. The female walked, ran away, or turned and attacked the male during her 54.2 +/- 8.3 s refractory period. This is the first time a large number of paired ursid matings has been described and timed.