Nutrient Content of Squawroot, Conopholis americana, 



and Its Importance to Southern Appalachian Black 



Bears, Ursus americanus (Carnivora: Ursidae) 



Steven G. Seibert 1 and Michael R. Pelton 



Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, 



The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901 



ABSTRACT — Squawroot (Conopholis americana), a preferred late 

 spring and early summer food of black bears (Ursus americanus), 

 was collected from Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, on a 

 weekly basis from 25 April to 4 July 1987. Proximate analysis 

 procedures were used to determine the nutrient content of the 

 plant. Samples were examined for nutrient differences between 

 the capsule and stems. Peak percentages were 13% crude protein 

 (capsule), 31% crude fiber (capsule), 3% fat [either extract] (capsule), 

 and 77% nitrogen-free extract [NFE] (whole plant). Gross energy 

 averaged 4.84 kcal/dry g. Levels of crude protein, crude fiber, 

 and either extract were similar to values reported for soft mast 

 species eaten by bears, and NFE was greater than herbaceous 

 material consumed in spring. Trends in protein and fat content 

 were higher in the capsules; protein decreased as crude fiber 

 increased. Nitrogen-free extract levels were relatively high throughout 

 the study and likely represent an important energy source for 

 bears feeding on squawroot. 



Squawroot (Conopholis americana) is a perennial, parasitic plant 

 (Musselman 1982) common to the Piedmont and southern Appalachian 

 (Harvill et al. 1981). Little is known about the plant, but it appears to 

 grow only from the roots of oak trees (Musselman and Mann 1978), 

 probably by infecting young root tips (Musselman 1982). 



Squawroot also is a common food eaten by black bears in spring 

 and early summer in the southern Appalachians (Beeman and Pelton 

 1980, Eagle and Pelton 1983, Garner 1986); the species is locally 

 abundant and may be nutritionally important to bears. Because of its 

 local abundance and time of maturity (often the first productive food 

 available), squawroot patches may influence movements of female 

 bears in the southern Appalachians. By locating readily-available, 

 high-energy foods, females may improve their energy benefit/cost 

 ratio, thereby increasing cub survival. The purpose of this study was 

 to determine the nutritional content of squawroot. 



1 Present address: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive 

 South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216. 



Brimleyana 21:151-156, December 1994 151 



