If you happen to live somewhere where black bears are commonly found, you may have already been aware of the impressive appetite of these magnificent animals. Black bears are omnivores as well as opportunistic feeders. Thus, we suppose many people, you included, often wonder: do black bears eat deer corn?
Black bears do eat deer corn if it is accessible to them. However, deer corn is not really the greatest diet black bears can have. Eating deer corn does not fulfill the nutritional needs of a black bear.
Anyway, we bet, you are still very much curious about the finer details of this particular diet of black bears. Good news for you, you found the right article. In this article, we will discuss the diet of black bears, the nutritional value of deer corn, and so many other things. All you need to do is read along and find out.
Diet Of Black Bears
Black bears are omnivores, which means that they tend to feed on both plants and animals. On top of that, they are opportunistic feeders that will have a great variety of food depending on what is available in their surrounding environment.
Thus, the diet of black bears can include grasses, fruits, nuts, and berries, as well as insects, fishes, small mammals, and carrions.
Related: Do Deer Eat Hickory Nuts?
In fact, black bears are often heard and seen feeding on pet food if it is left outside. Therefore, it is clear that, in general, black bears will eat anything and everything that is readily available and provides the necessary nutrients for survival.
This is why deer corn is eaten by black bears in some areas, even though it is not a natural or recommended part of their diet. Deer corn is a type of feed designed to meet the nutritional needs of deer, but some people claim that black bears also have a taste for it. So, if deer corn is easily accessible to black bears, be sure that they are going to make it a part of their diet.
The Nutritional Value Of Deer Corn
Deer corn is a special type of feed formulated to provide essential nutrients to deer. This includes protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Deer corn is often used by wildlife enthusiasts, hunters as well as others who want to attract deer to a particular area.
And, as we already mentioned before, if left unattended and easily accessible, the black bears of that area may often enjoy eating them. However, just because they enjoy eating, it does not mean that deer corn is good for them.
Because while deer corn is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of deer, it is not necessarily a healthy or balanced food for other animals, including black bears. For instance, deer corn is usually formulated as high in carbohydrates and low in fat.
This nutritional structure is not ideal for the metabolism of black bears. While deer corn may provide some nutritional value to black bears, it is not a suitable replacement for their natural diet, which includes a wider variety of food sources.
The Dangers Of Feeding Black Bears
If your curiosity on this matter stems from your desire to feed black bears, this is something you need to be aware of. Feeding black bears, including offering them deer corn, can be dangerous and lead to several negative consequences.
One of the most significant risks is habituation, where bears become used to human presence and food, which can cause them to change their natural behavior. Another risk of feeding black bears is the possibility of human-wildlife conflicts. Habituated bears are more likely to seek out food in human-lived areas. This can lead to property damage, injury, and even death.
Besides, feeding black bears can cause detrimental health issues for both humans and bears. For humans, the health risk might come from any transmission of diseases and parasites. As for black bears, deer corn, or any other type of food formulated by humans, can cause nutritional imbalances that can harm the health of black bears.
Therefore, it is not recommended to feed black bears deer corn or any other human-provided food. To avoid habituation and potential conflicts, it is crucial to keep wildlife and humans separated. If you want to help them, try to ensure that black bears have access to natural, healthy food sources.
Preventing Black Bears From Accessing Deer Corn
Now that we have confirmed that even though black bears do eat deer corn, it is not good for them. Let us tell you some ways you can prevent black bears from accessing deer corn or other human-provided food resources.
The most effective way to achieve this is by practicing proper food storage and waste management. You should store your deer corn or other food sources in bear-resistant containers or structures. It would be best if you also take measures to secure livestock feed and pet food. It is important to clean up any spilled birdseed or other things that might attract black bears.
Another way is to educate the local people. The hunters or wildlife enthusiasts, who leave out deer corn, need to be made aware of its detrimental effect on black bears’ health as well as the overall human-bear relationship.
Final Words
Black bears are opportunistic feeders with a very varied diet list. Thus, when available, they are not likely to pass on eating deer corn. And while deer corn may provide some nutritional value for the black bears, it is not a natural or necessary part of their diet.
Therefore, remember that feeding black bears, including offering them deer corn, can lead to habituation and dangerous behavior, both for humans and bears. You should do your best to prevent bears from accessing deer corn or other human-provided food sources.
However, while you are at it, it is best to keep yourself safe from the bears as well as keep the bear safe from you. They are magnificent creatures and should not be harmed by you or anyone in any way.
