Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Hi guys,
Just a question out of curiosity. I saw one of the bigger black bear boars I've ever seen on a piece of Jocko Creek Ranch land. I observed him the first evening eating on a hillside. The following morning I saw him running two horses on the same land. Not sure there was malicious intent. Probably just being awnery. Two days later the cattle came into the same pasture with very young calves. I was wondering why a bear of that size wouldn't just take a calf or two.
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Yes absolutely. Cows, calves, horses, everything...
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Of course they do. Calves, sheep, whatever.
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Yes, in some areas they are a real problem, sometimes even worse than wolves.
I gleaned private access to one of BC.s largest ranches many years ago solely on the promise
that I would shoot any black bear I saw near their calving grounds.
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
They're sneaky buggers. They'll lay down in a low spot or long grass. The calves being curious will come check them out. Can be a big problem. In landowners in Alberta can shoot them without a licence. Wish they'd let us deal with the hump back bears this way.
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Bears love babies. Be it human or animal. They eat everything. I know some ranchers in bc that SSS when it comes to bears. A large mature boar can kill a surprising amount of cows once they realize how. Dumb the cows are
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
I've killed 2 black bears in full charge after our sheep, killed 3 more that were creeping towards lambs. I was a bit choked to cancel bear tags because bear hunting for us is always kinda fun and relaxed, but we get two tags a year, and using the tags eliminated excess paperwork.
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Blackies LOVE deer Fawns and Moose Calves ! Black bear are Predators - and DEAD ones are the BEST ! RJ
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Many years ago my cousin who owns a large cattle ranch North of Mayerthorpe Alberta lost four pigs to a black bear. The bear fatally mauled three large sows to death and carried the other one off. The bear was never found and it never returned.
Re: Do Ranchers Ever Lose Calves to Black Bears
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sportster
Many years ago my cousin who owns a large cattle ranch North of Mayerthorpe Alberta lost four pigs to a black bear. The bear fatally mauled three large sows to death and carried the other one off. The bear was never found and it never returned.
A number of years ago a grizzly took out a bunch of pigs in one assault at my friends place. He didn't have a gun and said all he could do was watch and yell, but the grizz just ignored him. Grizz came back again, too.
Cougars have taken lots of animals around here, too.