Salt licks, or mineral blocks, are common in wildlife management, primarily used to support the nutritional needs of ungulates like deer and elk. While bears are attracted to these sites, their motivations and consistency of use differ significantly from strict herbivores. Bears exhibit opportunistic behavior linked to specific nutritional demands and seasonal changes, requiring a closer look at their diet and physiological requirements.
The Essential Need for Sodium and Minerals
Sodium chloride is a fundamental nutrient for all large mammals, playing a role in maintaining proper nerve and muscle function. As a principal electrolyte, it helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure. Bears, as omnivores, derive sodium from sources like meat, fish, and insects.
However, their diet often contains high amounts of potassium, especially when feeding heavily on spring and summer vegetation. High potassium content can deplete the body’s sodium reserves, creating a physiological need for salt intake. This need is often seasonal for bears; a diet heavy in vegetation or low-sodium prey can trigger an appetite for mineral supplementation. While these sites provide micronutrients like calcium and magnesium, sodium is typically the primary attractant.
Observed Bear Behavior at Mineral Sites
Bears visit both natural and artificial mineral sites, but their interest is often opportunistic rather than a simple desire for salt. Natural mineral licks are areas of clay or soil saturated with minerals. Bears use these sites for various purposes, including geophagy—the intentional consumption of earth or clay-like substances.
In some cases, the bear’s interest in mineral-rich soil is not purely for sodium replenishment but rather for digestive aid. For example, brown bears consuming large amounts of Pacific salmon, a diet high in phosphorus, will ingest clay to help bind and excrete the excess phosphorus. This consumption of earth acts as a natural antacid, helping the animal manage sudden dietary shifts.
When encountering artificial salt licks designed for deer, bears investigate the sites but do not always consume the blocks directly. A secondary attraction to these licks is the high concentration of prey, such as deer and elk, making the site a potential hunting ground. Therefore, a bear’s presence at an artificial lick may be more related to the scent of other animals than to a direct craving for the salt block itself.
Managing Human Encounters Near Bear Attractants
The attraction of bears to mineral sites introduces risks for human-bear conflict, especially near recreational areas. Wildlife management agencies strongly discourage the intentional use of artificial salt licks or supplemental feeding that may draw bears closer to human habitation. Introducing attractants can quickly habituate bears to finding food near people, leading to dangerous encounters.
Artificial licks function as unintended attractants, concentrating wildlife and pulling bears toward a predictable location. Many jurisdictions have regulations against baiting wildlife, and using a mineral block can inadvertently violate the spirit of these laws by drawing large animals. Landowners and hikers should focus on removing other, more common attractants, such as securing garbage, pet food, and bird feeders, which pose a greater risk of conflict.