Observation of an American Black Bear Eating Odonates in Yosemite National Park

Abstract

Abstract. American black bears (Ursus americanus) are opportunistic omnivores with diets that vary seasonally and geographically depending on food availability. Previous scat analyses across several populations suggest that the majority of animal material in the diet of black bears is from insects (mainly ants and wasps). In 2015, a black bear in Yosemite National Park was observed eating dragonflies, a previously unidentified insect food item. Emerging aquatic insects may be an important but overlooked aspect of black bear diet. Documenting the food sources of organisms is critical to understanding their natural history and ecology. In the case of highly digestible food items, visual observation is an important and underrepresented tactic for documenting diet.