This project was initiated because it became evident during the listing process that little was known about the life history and ecological relationships of this subspecies. In particular, little was known about use by bears of managed forests. Preliminary data from this cooperative project were cited extensively by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their recent decision to not list the Florida black bear. This is an important population center of the Florida black bear, and an area where industry lands and managed forests are an important landscape component. The project used intensive trapping, bait stations, and radio telemetry to achieve its objectives.
Field work is now complete and the investigators are preparing publications and the final report.