American Black Bears Depredate American Alligator Nests in South Florida

Abstract

Ursus americanus (American Black Bear) and Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) are sympatric in areas of Florida. During summer, alligators build nest mounds for eggs on freshwater shores, shallow marshes, and tree islands. Biologists have speculated that bears might prey upon alligator nests because of their opportunistic and generalist diet, though such predation in Florida has not been documented in peer-reviewed literature. Herein, we report 3 photographed events of American Black Bear predation on American Alligator nests in Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area, FL. During each event, bears dug into alligator nests and consumed egg contents. The predation events varied in duration from 36minutes to nearly 5 hours. During 1 event, a female bear consumed alligator eggs alongside 2 cubs of the year. Future research might explore the extent and effect of nest predation on American Alligator populations and the benefits to American Black Bears.

Full text

American Black Bears Depredate American Alligator
Nests in South Florida
Authors: Doran-Myers, Darcy, Parry, Mark, McHugh, Sean M.,
McCollister, Matthew, Scheick, Brian K., et al.
Source: Southeastern Naturalist, 22(3)
Published By: Eagle Hill Institute
URL: https://doi.org/10.1656/058.022.0308
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Southeastern Naturalist Notes
2023 Vol. 22, No. 3
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D. Doran-Myers, M. Parry, S.M. McHugh, M. McCollister, B.K. Scheick, and S. Shiver
American Black Bears Depredate American Alligator Nests in
South Florida
Darcy Doran-Myers1,*, Mark Parry2, Sean M. McHugh3, Matthew McCollister4,
Brian K. Scheick5, and Shelby Shiver5
Abstract - Ursus americanus (American Black Bear) and Alligator mississippiensis (American Al-
ligator) are sympatric in areas of Florida. During summer, alligators build nest mounds for eggs on
freshwater shores, shallow marshes, and tree islands. Biologists have speculated that bears might prey
upon alligator nests because of their opportunistic and generalist diet, though such predation in Florida
has not been documented in peer-reviewed literature. Herein, we report 3 photographed events of
American Black Bear predation on American Alligator nests in Everglades National Park, Big Cypress
National Preserve, and Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area, FL. During each event, bears
dug into alligator nests and consumed egg contents. The predation events varied in duration from 36
minutes to nearly 5 hours. During 1 event, a female bear consumed alligator eggs alongside 2 cubs of
the year. Future research might explore the extent and effect of nest predation on American Alligator
populations and the benets to American Black Bears.
Introduction. Historical ranges of Ursus americanus Pallas (American Black Bear,
hereinafter Bear) and Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin) (American Alligator, hereinafter
Alligator) covered much of the southeastern US (Hall 1981, Somma 2023). In Florida, both
species experienced drastic population declines during the 19th and 20th centuries (Dutton
et al. 2002, FWC 2019, Woodward and Moore 1995), reducing interspecic range overlap
and opportunities for interaction. By 1940, estimates of Bear abundance in the state were
reduced 97% from pre-European settlement levels (FWC 2019). At one point, Bears were
thought to occur in only 17% of Florida (GFC 1993). Abundance of Alligators was simi-
larly reduced, but they continued to range throughout the state (Dutton et al. 2002, USFWS
1975). Both species have since undergone population recoveries from the late-20th century
through present day (FWC 2019, Woodward and Elsey 2019, Woodward and Moore 1995).
Currently, Bears and Alligators co-occur in ~50% of the state (Scheick et al. 2023, Wood-
ward and Elsey 2019). During summer, female Alligators construct elevated nest mounds
in which they deposit eggs beneath a layer of vegetative debris (Woodward et al. 1989),
potentially providing an opportunity for predators like Bears to raid nests. Herein, we report
evidence of a predatory relationship between these 2 large-bodied, native Floridian species.
Prior studies concerning the diet of Bears in Florida used scat and stomach-content anal-
yses. Combined, these studies amount to 2711 Bear scats and 89 stomach-content samples
collected over 6 decades across the state (Dobey et al. 2005, Harlow 1961, Maehr 1996,
Maehr and Brady 1984, Maehr and Defazio 1985, Murphy et al. 2017, Roof 1997, Stratman
and Pelton 1999). Among these data was 1 report of Alligator egg consumption, noted by
Maehr and Defazio (1985); unfortunately, the location and other details were not included
with the record. Dobey et al. (2005) identied trace amounts of reptile eggs in Bear scat,
1Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
2South Florida Natural Resource Center, National Park Service, Homestead, FL 33034. 3Habitat and
Species Conservation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Immokalee, FL 34142.
4National Park Service, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, FL 34141. 5Fish and Wildlife Re-
search Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL 32601. *Cor-
responding author - darcydoranmyers@gmail.com.
Manuscript Editor: David Steen
SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST NOTES
2023 22(3):N58–N66
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but the authors did not identify the reptilian species. Importantly, stomach and scat content
studies cannot differentiate between predation and scavenging of Alligator nests. Bears can
scavenge nests already depredated by other wildlife such as Procyon lotor (L.) (Raccoon) or
Sus scrofa L. (Wild Hog). To date, there are no published reports of predation on Alligator
eggs by Bears in Florida.
Reports of Bears depredating Alligator eggs elsewhere are rare. Reese (1915:20) report-
ed that “... according to the statement of reliable hunters, Bears are very persistent searchers
for and eaters of Alligator eggs”, but no other details were provided. In Okefenokee Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge, GA (a historical stronghold for Bears and Alligators), biologists
monitoring Alligator nests reported Bear predation of nests on 3 occasions. Metzen (1977)
suspected Bear predation at 93% (88 of 95) of depredated nests but was unable to conrm
the predator species because of inherent difculties in eld identication. Using camera
traps, Hunt (1986) and Hunt and Ogden (1991) reported that 56% (9 of 16) and 73% (11
of 15) of depredated Alligator nests, respectively, were depredated by Bears. To the best of
our knowledge, these 2 reports are the only published, evidenced reports of Alligator nest
predation by Bears anywhere they occur in sympatry.
We report 3 observations of Bear predation on Alligator nests in southern Florida.
They represent the rst published records of such predation in Florida, building upon prior
records in Georgia (Hunt 1986, Hunt and Ogden 1991). Our observations provide new evi-
dence of a predatory relationship between 2 native Floridian species that have experienced
historical population declines and subsequent recovery.
Methods and observations. On 25 July 2018, National Park Service (NPS) biologist M.
Parry deployed a camera trap (Reconyx® Ultrare; Holmen, WI) in Everglades National
Park (NP), FL (Fig. 1), at an active Alligator nest containing 40 fertile eggs (counted pre-
predation). The nest was in close proximity to a tree island in a ooded area with an average
water depth of 19 cm (mean value of 4 depth measurements taken at cardinal directions
around nest). The nest was constructed primarily from Typha spp. (cattails) and Cladium
jamaicense Crantz (Sawgrass), and was partially shaded by Chrysobalanas icaco L. (Co-
coplum). Parry set the camera to capture 1 photo and one 30-second video upon motion
trigger with no delay between captures. On 1 August at 1412 h, an unmarked male Bear
was recorded on the camera (Fig. 2; also see Supplemental File 1, available online at http://
www.eaglehill.us/SENAonline/suppl-les/s22-3-S2849-Doran-Myers-s1, and for BioOne
subscribers, at https://www.doi.org/10.1656/S2849.s1). The Bear exhibited poor body con-
dition, with outlines of ribs, vertebrae, and pelvic bones visible under the skin and healed
injuries to the ears and snout. He dug into the nest with his front paws, then opened the rst
egg with his teeth at 1414 h. Over the course of 4 hours and 52 minutes spent at the nest,
the Bear consumed at least 38 eggs. We were unable to count those eggs the Bear appeared
to consume beyond the view of the camera. The Bear consumed at least 25 eggs between
1414 h and 1425 h. From 1425 h to 1847 h (4 hours, 22 minutes), the Bear rested on top of
the nest, alternating between standing, sitting, lying, sleeping, grooming, and snifng the
air. He did not leave the nest for any notable duration of time during this period. The Bear
again began digging at 1848 h and had consumed at least 13 additional eggs by 1900 h.
While searching the nest, he frequently pushed dirt away with his snout and occasionally
used his front claws to dig. He picked up each egg with his front teeth and lips then moved
the egg to his back molars to break the eggshell. Occasionally eggshells visibly dropped
from his mouth, but in most cases it was not clear if he consumed the shells along with the
egg contents. At 1904 h, he left the view of the camera and did not return to the site before
the camera was pulled on 16 August 2018, at which time biologists noted that no intact eggs
remained within the nest.
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On 6 July 2022, NPS staff B. Mason and D. Lewis observed a Bear at the site of a
known Alligator nest in Big Cypress National Preserve, FL (Fig. 1). The nest was located
on the edge of a raised road ~1 m from their vehicle. The Bear had been ear-tagged as part
of research conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
We identied the Bear from ear tags as 3-year-old male M165, captured within the Preserve
15 June 2022. FWC staff photographed the Bear and nest at 0828 h (Fig. 3). In the photo,
eggs were uncovered but intact. The Bear then ed into the vegetation lining the road. The
staff returned and took another photo of the nest at 0900 h in which eggshells from at least
3 newly broken eggs are visible. Several additional eggs were uncovered but intact. The
Bear was not photographed at that time but was observed digging into the nest when staff
approached. Staff observed the Bear at or near the nest every 15 minutes until ~1030 h, but
did not take more photos of the Bear or the nest. The next afternoon (7 July), staff deployed
a camera trap (Reconyx® PC900 Professional) at the Alligator nest. A female Bear (F167;
Figure 1. Map of 3 point locations (pink dots) where we observed Ursus americanus (American Black
Bear) predation on Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) nests within 3 South Florida natu-
ral areas (indicated by shades of green): Big Cypress National Preserve (NP), Dinner Island Ranch
Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and Everglades National Park (NP). The map extent is shown in
the inset map of Florida. Water bodies indicated in blue.
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Figure 3. An uncovered Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) nest (white arrow; base of
palm tree) and an Ursus americanus (American Black Bear; red arrow; partially hidden by vegeta-
tion to the right of palm tree) photographed just before the bear depredated the nest in Big Cypress
National Preserve, FL. Half an hour later, the same nest was photographed with several broken eggs.
Photograph © NPS staff B. Mason and D. Lewis.
Figure 2. An Ursus americanus (American Black Bear) in Everglades National Park, FL, pulls an
Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) egg from a nest. The bear consumed at least 38 eggs
over nearly 5 hours, causing total clutch loss.
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12–14 years old, GPS-collared and ear tagged by FWC on 19 June 2022) visited the site on
9 July at 1608 h, M165 returned on 9 July at 2050 h, and an unmarked male Bear visited
the site on 10 July at 2211 h. We did not observe egg consumption during any of these Bear
visits. Staff removed the camera on 14 July 2022, at which time biologists noted that no
intact eggs remained.
On 20 July 2022, FWC biologist S.M. McHugh deployed a camera trap (Stealth Cam®
DS4K-Ultimate; Irving, TX) at an active Alligator nest within Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife
Management Area (WMA), FL (Fig. 1). The camera was set to record a 30-second video upon
motion trigger with a 2-second delay between videos. On 9 August at 1627 h, the nesting Al-
ligator left the view of the camera. On 11 August at 0415 h, a Lynx rufus (Schreber) (Bobcat)
investigated the nest but did not disturb it. On 11 August at 1921 h, the camera recorded an
unmarked adult female Bear and 2 cubs of the year (~6 months old) at the site (Fig. 4; also
see Supplemental File 2, available online http://www.eaglehill.us/SENAonline/suppl-les/
s22-3-S2849-Doran-Myers-s2, and for BioOne subscribers, at https://www.doi.org/10.1656/
S2849.s2). All 3 Bears appeared to be in good condition, other than the adult female missing
her left eye. Upon arriving at the nest, the adult female dug into the top of the nest with her
front paws for ~2 minutes and uncovered the rst egg at 1924 h. By 1925 h, both cubs were
consuming eggs alongside the adult female. Together, the adult and 2 cubs consumed at least
17 eggs over the 36 minutes the camera recorded them. However, we were unable to count
all eggs because the Bears appeared to consume some eggs hidden behind obstructions or
with their backs turned to the camera. While searching the nest, the adult female frequently
dug into nest material and rolled eggs toward herself with her front paws. She cracked the
eggs with her front teeth and canines and then licked the egg contents from the ground. She
sometimes consumed the eggshells, other times discarding them. The cubs frequently licked
egg contents from those eggs that the adult female had already broken open. However, in 1
video a cub independently broke and consumed one egg. At 1949 h, the cubs began investi-
gating and moving the camera trap such that any egg consumption in subsequent videos was
Figure 4. A female Ursus americanus (American Black Bear) and 2 cubs of the year consume an egg
from an Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) nest in Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Manage-
ment Area, FL. The bears consumed at least 17 eggs from this nest in 36 minutes.
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unclear. The camera last recorded the Bears at 1957 h. All 3 Bears returned the next morning,
12 August at 0517 h, and again investigated the nest and camera. Because the Bears moved the
camera the day before, it is unclear from the videos if the Bears consumed more eggs before
leaving the site at 0525 h (after 8 minutes at the nest). On 13 August at 0428 h, an adult Alliga-
tor, possibly the nesting mother, approached but did not stop at the nest or exhibit any obvious
reaction to the egg loss. The Bears did not return before the camera was pulled on 18 August,
and biologists did not inspect the nest for intact eggs.
Discussion. We do not believe that Bear predation of Alligator nests is a new phe-
nomenon (Hunt 1986, Hunt and Ogden 1991, Reese 1915), but that it was likely very rare
in Florida for many decades because of population declines in both species. The greater
abundances of both species (FWC 2019, Woodward and Elsey 2019, Woodward and Moore
1995) and the overlap in range (Scheick et al. 2023, Woodward and Elsey 2019) may have
increased the frequency of interspecic interactions.
Alligators typically lay between 30 and 50 eggs per nest (Woodward and Elsey 2019).
Ugarte (2006) reported average clutch size in Everglades NP from 1985 to 2005 as 26 eggs.
During our Everglades NP observation, the Bear consumed at least 38 of the 40 previously
counted eggs, suggesting near-total or total clutch loss. Remaining eggs in a partially de-
stroyed nest commonly succumb to rot introduced by neighboring broken eggs, sunlight
exposure, or lethal temperatures (Everglades NP, Homestead, FL, unpubl. data). During this
event, NPS biologists conducted another egg count 2 weeks post-predation and found zero
intact eggs, conrming total clutch loss. Monitoring of nests should continue to provide
insight on the number of remaining eggs, if any, that successfully hatch after a Bear depre-
dates an Alligator nest.
FWC predicts Bear abundance to continue increasing in much of Florida (FWC 2019),
suggesting that the loss of Alligator eggs to predation might increase in areas of species range
overlap. Any changes in nest survival, in combination with additional threats such as climate
change (Ryberg and Lawing 2018), should be included in Alligator demographic models.
For example, in Everglades NP, long-term annual nesting studies indicate recent increases in
nest-predation events occurring alongside increases in Bear observations (Dalrymple 2001,
Scheick et al. 2023, Ugarte 2006). Kushlan and Jacobsen (1990) reported that between 1975
and 2005, 6.6% of Alligator eggs (not clutches) were depredated annually in Everglades NP,
and nesting data in the same region from 1985 to 2017 indicates an annual mean of 2% of
clutches lost due to predation, with the greatest value being 10% in 1994 (Dalrymple 2001;
Everglades NP, Homestead, FL, unpubl. data; Ugarte 2006 ). Predation by Bears was rst sus-
pected in 2018 and 2019 based on eld observations, including tracks and scat. During these
years, surveyors observed nest predation in 3% (n = 3) and 7% (n = 6) of nests, respectively.
However, in 2021 and 2022, 17% (n = 22) and 22% (n = 19), respectively, of nests containing
eggs were depredated, exceeding ooding as the primary cause of nest failure for the rst time
since records were kept (Everglades NP, Homestead, FL, unpubl. data). Managers suspected
Bears were the predator in the vast majority of these instances (Everglades NP, Homestead,
FL, unpubl. data). For those cases in which Bears were suspected, no viable eggs were left
within the nest, equating to total clutch loss (Everglades NP, Homestead, FL, unpubl. data).
Further monitoring to conclusively determine the predator species might conrm that Bears
are one of the main causes of increased clutch loss.
Although parental defense occurs in most crocodilian species including Alligators
(Kushlan and Kushlan 1980, Somaweera et al. 2013), we did not observe parental defense
during any of the predation events. In the Dinner Island Ranch WMA observations described
above, biologists reported that during each visit the adult female Alligator was present near
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the nest but did not display defensive or aggressive behaviors. In the Everglades NP ob-
servation reported here, the Bear seemed to be relaxed enough to sleep on top of the nest
mid-predation. Parental defense improves nest success for crocodilians but sometimes does
not occur in areas with few or no nest predators (e.g., Australia; Somaweera et al. 2013).
Because Bears were likely a rare nest predator in the state for much of the 20th century,
perhaps enough time has passed such that adaptive behaviors to defend nests from Bears
have been lost. Alternatively, the lack of parental defense that we observed might simply be
due to chance, especially considering our small sample size (n = 3 observations). Continued
observations of Alligator nests would ensure biologists have a better understanding of the
behavioral adaptations of nesting Alligators in response to predation risk.
The opportunistic, generalist diet of Bears indicates that Bears likely prey upon similar
ground nests when presented with the opportunity and/or after developing a search image
for nests. The threatened Crocodylus acutus (Cuvier) (American Crocodile) coexists with
Alligators in South Florida and, although nesting ecology differs between the species (Maz-
zotti et al. 2022), could also be vulnerable to nest predation as Bear range expands within
the region (Scheick et al. 2023). In South Florida, one historical account described observ-
ing a Bear “dig the eggs out of a [American] crocodile nest and eat them” (Moore 1953:68).
The invasive Python molurus bivittatus Kuhl (Burmese Python) creates ground nests con-
taining several dozen eggs of large size, similar to Alligator nests. As Bear and Burmese
Python ranges expand and overlap in Florida (Guzy et al. 2023, Scheick et al. 2023), Bears
might depredate python nests. Bears have additionally been documented depredating bird
(Bjorndal 2020, Danielson et al. 1997, Dyson et al. 2020) and turtle (Lovich et al. 2014)
ground nests.
Bears nutritionally benet from consuming Alligator eggs. The underweight male in
Everglades NP and the lactating female in Dinner Island Ranch WMA are among those indi-
viduals that stand to benet the most from consuming this seasonally available, high-energy
resource. Bears’ ability to exploit new and varied foods allows them to live in diverse
habitats from arctic Canada to central Mexico (Scheick and McCown 2014). In a quickly
changing Florida landscape full of non-native foods like Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi
(Brazilian Peppertree) and anthropogenic food resources such as garbage, Alligator eggs
represent a nutritious, native food resource that will not contribute to persistent ecological
issues such as food conditioning, human–Bear conict, or seed dispersal of invasive plants.
Herein we report the rst published evidence that Bear predation on Alligator nests is
occurring in Florida, adding to the Georgia-based literature reported by Hunt and Ogden
(1991) and Hunt (1986). We also demonstrate that camera traps are a powerful tool in inves-
tigating this interspecic relationship. We suggest continued monitoring of Alligator nests
and similar egg-laying species’ nests to identify nest predators, and we suggest research ex-
ploring the costs and benets of this relationship for each species. As abundances and ranges
of large-bodied predators in Florida recover after decades of reduction, we predict to see a
return of relationships that existed before European colonization and predator persecution.
Acknowledgments. We thank Biological Technician D. Harrawood at Dinner Island Ranch WMA
who originally found the nest and reported it to area biologists. We also thank NPS staff B. Mason
and D. Lewis for sharing their photos in Big Cypress National Preserve. D. Steen and 2 anonymous
reviewers provided helpful reviews that improved this note.
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