Breeding behavior of the American black bear Ursus americanus

Abstract

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.