Family | Scientific name | ||
HERBS | Dioscoreaceae | Dioscorea sp. | |
Gramineae | Imperata cylindrica | ||
Araceae | Arisaema sp. | ||
TREES | Rosaceae | Prunus maximowiczii | * |
Rosaceae | Prunus jamasakura | ||
Rosaceae | Prunus Grayana | ||
Cornaceae | Cornus Kousa | ||
Rosaceae | Rubus crataegifolius | ||
Staphyleaceae | Staphylea bumalda | ||
Rosaceae | Rubus palmatus | ||
Rhamnaceae | Berchemia racemosa | ||
Actinidiaceae | Actinidia arguta | * | |
Actinidiaceae | Actinidia polygama | ||
Juglandaceae | Juglans mandshurica | ||
Lardizabalaceae | Akebia sp. | ||
Fagaceae | Fagus japonica | ** | |
Fagaceae | Quercus mongolia | ** | |
Fagaceae | Quercus serrata | ** | |
Fagaceae | Quercus sp. | ** | |
Stachyuraceae | Stachyurus praecox | ||
Moraceae | Morus austrakis | ||
Magnoliaceae | Schisandra nigra | * | |
Vitaceae | Vitis coignetiae | ||
Aquifoliaceae | Ilex macropoda | ** | |
INSECTS, etc | Formicidae | Lasius sp. | |
Formicidae | Lasius niger | ||
Formicidae | Lasius teranishii | ||
Formicidae | Lasius flavus | ||
Formicidae | Camponotus obscuripes | ||
Formicidae | Camponotus japonicus | ||
Vespidae | Vespula sp. | * | |
Vespidae | Vespula lewisii | ||
Vespidae | Vespula vufa | ||
Vespidae | Vespa similima | ||
Vespidae | Vespa analis | ||
Vespidae | Vespa sp. | ||
DIPTERA unknown | |||
COLEOPTERA unknown | |||
Potamidae | Geothelphusa dehaani | ||
MAMMALS | Cervidae | Cervus nippon | |
*FFood conspicuously consumed from spring to summer
**FFood conspicuously consumed from autumn to winter
The above table is a list of food items found in the bear scat sampled in Okutama Mountains between 1993 and 95. In autumn, in particular, various acorns are seen to be consumed. The acorns are a principal food item, providing the bears with sufficient body fat before they go into hibernation. For females, then, the amount of acorns they consume can even determine the outcome of their pregnancy and delivery.
Photo: A feeding mark on Konara oak left behind by a black bear, known as feeding platform which made from the broken branches.