Black bears consume corn, a common behavior in areas where agricultural fields intersect with their natural habitats. Bears are drawn to cornfields, especially during specific times of the year, due to their dietary needs and opportunistic feeding habits.
Why Bears Seek Out Corn
Black bears are omnivores, and their diet changes with seasonal food availability. Corn becomes a desirable food source due to its caloric density, particularly during its milk stage. While not always highly nutritious compared to other natural foods, its abundance and ease of access make it a convenient option for these opportunistic feeders.
In late summer and fall, black bears enter hyperphagia, an intense urge to eat excessively. This period is crucial for accumulating fat reserves necessary for winter hibernation. During hyperphagia, a bear’s daily caloric intake can increase substantially, sometimes reaching 15,000 to 20,000 calories. Cornfields offer a concentrated and readily available source of these calories, helping bears gain significant body weight before denning. Pregnant females rely on sufficient fat stores for fetal development and milk production.
How Bears Consume Corn
Black bears access cornfields from wooded areas, using their keen sense of smell to detect corn from a distance. Once in a field, bears break or smash down corn stalks to reach the ears. They consume the entire cob, a distinct feeding pattern that differentiates their damage from other wildlife like raccoons, which strip kernels from the cob.
Bear activity results in noticeable damage, including large areas of flattened or broken stalks. These patterns can sometimes appear as “crop circles” within the field. Bears prefer corn in its “milk stage,” before it fully dries and hardens. This feeding can be wasteful, with portions of corn remaining on partially eaten cobs.
Preventing Bear Damage to Corn
Electric fencing is an effective method to deter black bears from cornfields. Fences should be properly installed with multiple strands of high-tensile wire and maintained regularly to ensure effectiveness. Baiting the wires with peanut butter or bacon encourages bears to touch the wire, delivering a shock that trains them to avoid the area. Chargers should provide 5,000 to 6,000 volts to be effective.
Reducing attractants around cornfields also helps mitigate damage. This includes promptly harvesting corn, especially sweet corn, as it ripens, and removing any fallen ears or debris. Maintaining mowed, open corridors around fields can make the area less appealing by reducing cover. Planting less attractive crops or creating barriers with prickly plants like winter squash can also be considered.
Hazing techniques can discourage bears that repeatedly visit cornfields. These include noise deterrents like air horns or visual deterrents like strobe lights. To remain effective, their placement and timing should be varied to prevent bears from becoming accustomed. Living responsibly in bear country involves securing food sources and avoiding actions that encourage bears to associate human presence with easy meals.