Bears as Predators ~

[Spalea]

" It was a year ago this month that we captured this incredible, although graphic, video of a black bear attacking a sounder of pigs, only to have the lead sow return into frame and run off the bear in attempt to save her screaming piglet from the veritable jaws of death. Since then, this video has been viewed well over 1 million times and remains the most remarkable behavioral capture ever recorded by our traps on Tejon. It cannot be overstated how unlikely it is to capture such a dramatic encounter within the finite frame and capture window of our camera traps. Although this predatory behavior is well known in black bears there remains very few recordings of them actively hunting in this way. Despite its violent imagery and disturbing sound, this video is a remarkable testament of the strength and agility of the black bear as a top predator as well as the fearlessness and maternal instinct of the sow as a mother and group leader."

Reply