Predatory bears??
 

I was talking to my uncle over the weekend down in PA. He claims a friend of his has trail cams up on the mountain andhas gathered seven pictures of black bear with fawns IN THEIR MOUTH over the last year. He claims that a lack of ground feed for the bears has caused them to follow the does and snatch the fawns right after birth. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I have to admit, I have not seen the pictures, but my uncle claims he has (and he is a someone I hold in high regard). He claims this is a major factor in the poor deer population in parts of PA as the bear population is quite high right now. Just curious about your thoughts.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

Find a way to get the pictures, id be really interested in seeing them!

RE: Predatory bears??
 

Yes, I am trying to get a look at them. I have never heard of a black bear eating deer before. That is why I posted for opinions.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

Its absolutely true!!

RE: Predatory bears??
 

I wouldn't have posted it if I thought is was untrue. My uncle is a great woodsman and hunter, but I have never heard of this before, so it caught me off guard when he mentioned it.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

During the fawn mortality study conducted by the PGC a few years back, they found bears to be FAR more of a threat to fawns than coyotes. If you go to the PGC page I'm sure you can look around and find the study.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

I've talked to guys that live in Northern Minnesota where our black bear population is and they've seen it 1st hand where a bear will take a fawn almost right away after the doe has the fawn. Its more common then one thinks I'm thinking.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

Bears are heavy predators on fawns as well as turkey eggs and hatchlings.

Last spring my mom saw a fawn in the yard, moments later a bear moved through, she was outside and heard the scuffle and fawn distress. :( Law of tooth and claw.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

I've personally called in bears with predator calls, so it doesn't surprise me. IIRC, I believeit was actually a fawn bleat call I had one come into when yote hunting in Vermont 10+ years ago. They are very opportunistic feeders.

RE: Predatory bears??
 

That reminded me of last year, 06 I did the same thing for Kurt when a bear crossed a field angling away from us. I had him standing at the base of our tree looking up at us. :)