Black Bear
Predation by black bears on livestock is most common in spring and summer. Limited food sources in early spring and failures of wild berry and nut crops during summer months are probably major contributing factors. Black bears are also omnivorous and vegetation is a significant part of their diet. They do extensive damage in some areas of the northwestern states by stripping the bark from trees and feeding on the cambium. Black bears raid beeyards for honey and orchards for fruit. They also feed readily on carrion.
Black bears will attack adult cattle and horses but seem to prefer sheep, goats, calves and pigs. They may break the neck or back of prey with blows from the paws, but normally they kill by biting the neck and shoulders. Claw marks are frequently found on the neck, back and shoulders of these larger animals. Multiple kills of sheep and goats are relatively common, possibly because they are easy prey.
Whether by accident or design, bears have been known to frighten livestock herds over cliffs, causing injuries and death to many animals.
Black bears prefer to feed in seclusion and often drag their prey to cover. They frequently begin feeding on the udder of lactating females, but generally prefer meat to the viscera. Some begin feeding at the neck or shoulders where the initial attack occurs. Where most of the prey is consumed, the skin of large prey is stripped back and turned inside out. The skin and skeleton are usually left largely intact. The carcass is rarely scattered by black bears although this may be done by coyotes or other animals that scavenge the remains. Vegetation around the carcass is usually matted down by black bears and their droppings are frequently found nearby.
Black bears may attempt to cover remains of larger carcasses but seem somewhat less inclined to do so than cougars and grizzly bears. Bear tracks have distinct characteristics. Bears have five toes with a broad, short pad on the front foot and five toes with a triangular pad on the rear foot. The rear foot oversteps the front foot in normal travel.
