The diet of the brown bear Ursus arctos in the Pasvik Valley, northeasternNorway

The seasonal composition of and the annual variation in the diet of the bro wn bear Ursus arctos in the Pasvik Valley, northeastern Norway, were estima ted based on the analysis of 137 bear seats. The importance of moose Alces alces and reindeer Rangifer tarandus in the diet was given special attentio n, because results from Russia suggest that brown bears are generally more carnivorous in the north. Ungulates, especially adult moose, comprised the most important food item for bears in the Pasvik Valley during spring and s ummer, contributing 85 and 70% of the Estimated Dietary Energy Content (EDE C), respectively. During autumn, when the bears have to build up fat reserv es and increase lean body mass for hibernation, berries were the mast impor tant food item, contributing 49% of the EDEC, but ungulates were still impo rtant, contributing 30% of the EDEC. Insects and vegetation were of low imp ortance in all seasons. The proportion of ungulates in the diet of brown be ars in the Pasvik Valley was considerably higher than farther south in Scan dinavia, and this regional difference is important concerning bear and moos e management in northern areas.