Are black bears a threat?

[Flowerbh]

I live in the north GA mountains. We have just started letting our chickens out to free range. Today we saw a black bear close to where our chickens were. We shooed it away. My husband thinks it wanted the chickens. I am thinking it really wanted the bag of deer corn we had in the garage that was open. We also started a compost pile out behind the chicken coop. What do you think? Chickens or corn/compost?

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Probably all of it.

 

[chippie]

They eat chicken!!!!

 

[devora]

Probably all of it.

X2

What is "deer corn"?

 

[WinklerFarms]

It's corn you feed to a deer just in a fancy bag. Some comes with molasses on it.

 

[Flowerbh]

X2

What is "deer corn"?

Yes, we actually give it to our wild geese family. Parents and 6 babies. They have their babies here on our lake every year. We also get some deer (and occassional bears) and turkeys not to mention the dozens of squirrels!

 

[WinklerFarms]

I like that pic!

 

[sourland]

Probably all of it.

X 3 Bears are omnivores - they will eat any and everything.

 

[akovia]

Bears are opportunists. They like deer fawns. If you feed deer, the deer population will attract bears. The bears will then go after whatever is available, including chickens. On another topic: feeding wildlife is always a BAD idea; for the wildlife. Please stop doing that.