Habitat Utilization Patterns of Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) in North Bilaspur forest Division, India

Sloth bears inhabits different habitat types across Indian subcontinent and lives in varied sized dens made up of big boulders. The present survey recorded 109 active denning sites in Pendra and Marwahi ranges of North Bilaspur Forest Division. Most of the bear denning sites were located around Ficus virens, F. tinctoria, Bauhinia sp., Diospyros melanoxylon, Boswellia serrata and Lannea coromandelica trees. All dens were recorded from degraded forests. Water availability for bears was plentiful and most of the denning sites had accessibility to water at a short distance. Similarly, most of the denning sites were located at a reasonable distance from the nearest human habitation. Majority of recorded dens faced south followed by southeast and northeast directions. Interestingly, other animals were also observed sharing bear denning sites. Occasionally sloth bears were seen shifting their sites. The sloth bear preferred to come out from their dens early in the evening but seen waiting until dark to commence before going for foraging. Sloth bear also relax for 30-45 minutes outside the dens before entering into it. Majority of observed bears entered into their dens early in the morning much before human starts entering into forests. Annual outside mean temperature as well as inside mean temperature of dens varied significantly during day time.