How do black bears disperse palm seeds in Florida?

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Dense grove of acai palm trees (Euterpe oleracea) with slender trunks and abundant green fronds growing on Combu Island in Belem, Para, Brazil. — Palm Wild acai palms (*Euterpe oleracea*) growing on Combu Island in Belem, state of Para in Brazil.

In Florida, the black bear (Ursus americanus) plays a key role in the dispersal of palm seeds by consuming the fruit of various species. Specifically, black bears are known to disperse the seeds of Sabal, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, and Serenoa repens within the state.1