154 Steven G. Seibert and Michael R. Pelton 



Fat (Ether Extract) 



Fat content in squawroot was low (Fig. 1) and similar to soft 

 mast species such as huckleberry (Gaylussacia sp.) and black gum 

 (Nyssa sylvatica) (Landers et al. 1979), which also are important to 

 bears. The greatest trend in percentage of fat occurred in the capsules 

 collected on 13 June. Fat trends were higher in capsules (x = 1.53%, 

 SE = 0.14, range = 1.0-3.0%) than stems (x = 0.75%, SE = 0.12, 

 range = 0.1-1.4%) for all except the final collection. Mean fat content 

 for the whole plant was 1.34% (SE = 0.69, range = 0.7-2.5%). 



Crude Fiber 



The trend in crude fiber for the stem (x = 19.23%, SE = 0.65, 

 range = 14.8-21.5%) was similar throughout the study (Fig. 1); this 

 might be expected because the stem is the only structural component 

 of the plant. Crude fiber increased in the capsules (x = 22.62%, SE = 

 2.24, range = 10.2-31.5%) throughout the study period and appeared 

 negatively correlated with protein. Crude fiber averaged 16.53% (SE 

 = 1.65, range = 6.4-29.0%) for the whole plant. 



Nitrogen-Free Extract (NFE) 



Nitrogen-free extract was highest in early spring and lowest in 

 late June in the whole plant (x = 69.1%, SE = 1.14, range = 61.1— 

 77.4%) and capsules (x = 63.7%, SE = 1.23, range = 58.4-70.7%) 

 (Fig. 1). NFE increased from late May to July in the stems (x = 

 70.7%, SE = 2.88, range = 65.1-74.9%). 



Gross Energy 



There was little variation in gross energy among weeks, or between 

 the different plant parts; this agrees with Robbins (1983) and Powell 

 and Seaman (1990). Gross energy averaged 4.8 kcal/dry g (SE = 0.03, 

 range = 4.7-5.1) (whole plant); 5.0 kcal/dry g (SE = 0.05, range = 

 4.9-5.2) (capsules); and 4.7 kcal/dry g (SE = 0.06, range = 4.3-5.0) 

 (stems). 



The nutritional content of squawroot appeared to change over 

 time. Protein and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) concentrations were 

 greatest during the early weeks. Fat was greatest during middle of the 

 study, and crude fiber was lowest early and increased with time. 



DISCUSSION 



Spring diets of bears in the southern Appalachians contain large 

 amounts of herbaceous material (Beeman and Pelton 1980, Eagle and 

 Pelton 1983, Garner 1986). Herbaceous material is relatively high in 

 protein (Landers et al. 1979, Eagle and Pelton 1983). Nitrogen-free 



