| Economic loss due to tree damage on managed timberlands by black bears (Ursus americanus) has been valued at several million dollars annually in the Pacific Northwest. However, damage to trees in otherwise homogeneous regenerating stands can alters forest structure and habitat that may contribute to forest wildlife diversity. To the Hupa people in northwestern California, pileated (Dryocopus pileatus) and other woodpecker species are considered culturally significant. We studied the relationship between bear damage to Douglas fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and bird community composition and structure, focusing on cavity-nesting birds such as woodpeckers. Measurements of damage to trees confirmed that bear foraging negatively affected tree growth and estimated lumber recovery. However, analyses of points counts revealed that woodpecker activity and habitat selection increased with increasing number of dead and decaying bear damaged trees. Information from this study can better inform our current understanding of the potential for bear foraging to negatively affect economic revenue, and the trade-offs which help to create habitat conditions favoring other important wildlife species. Understanding the costs and benefits of bear damage can help guide management decisions vital to forest managers both on and off tribal lands. |