Let's face it, they are all out there looking for food. Is a bear higher up on the food chain than a deer? You bet!! Will a bear give way over a kill, to a deer? No way!

I agree that they co-exist, but they are very much aware of their pecking order in the food chain, and a deer is even more skiddish than a Black Bear (not talking grizzlies here of course).

It is my opinion that you will not have as predictable a feeding or migration pattern with the deer, if there are bear around, but I DON'T believe they will disappear altogether.

Frankly, given the increasing numbers of COYOTES around here lately (in the Northeast), I'd be MORE concerned about THEM, than bears.