DO BLACK BEARS PREY ON DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK?
Black bears are capable of killing various livestock and poultry, including sheep, goats, swine, cattle, rabbits, turkeys, and chickens. Sheep accounted for most (90%) losses in Virginia but in Alberta cattle (mostly calves) comprised 81% of losses. Livestock depredations are comparatively uncommon in Massachusetts; 100% of livestock owners surveyed in 1990 indicated that damage was low or moderate with losses <$1000 per year. Livestock depredations have been widely reported throughout North America, but verification of kills is often lacking. Only 1 of 8 bears within sheep allotments in Idaho and Wyoming was a known predator. In one Maine study, 57% of sheep losses were fraudulent or undetermined. Typically, only a single animal or a few are killed; however, in one western state 230 sheep were killed. Numerous losses during a single instance may involve surplus killing (i.e., excessive multiple kills at one time). Although one hypothesis suggests that searching behavior (but not killi
Black bears are capable of killing various livestock and poultry, including sheep, goats, swine, cattle, rabbits, turkeys, and chickens. Sheep accounted for most (90%) losses in Virginia but in Alberta cattle (mostly calves) comprised 81% of losses. Livestock depredations are comparatively uncommon in Massachusetts; 100% of livestock owners surveyed in 1990 indicated that damage was “low” or “moderate” with losses <$1000 per year. Livestock depredations have been widely reported throughout North America, but verification of kills is often lacking. Only 1 of 8 bears within sheep allotments in Idaho and Wyoming was a known predator. In one Maine study, 57% of sheep losses were fraudulent or undetermined. Typically, only a single animal or a few are killed; however, in one western state 230 sheep were killed. Numerous losses during a single instance may involve "surplus killing" (i.e., excessive multiple kills at one time). Although one hypothesis suggests that searching behavior (but not
