Graphic Evidence of Bears Killing Young Bears

AmmoLand ^ | December 15, 2022 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Big boar bears kill (and often eat) about 25% of cubs and young bears every year. That is about 8% of the bear population is killed and eaten by big bears every year.

[marktwain]

Link to video on instagram of big boar killing sub-adult.

[Travis McGee]

I assume it’s the same as with lions. Horny boar bears won’t get laid as long as momma bears are lactating and caring for cubs.

[lump in the melting pot]

The behavior makes sense from a genetic standpoint, but only up to a point. Given their large territories, 25% of cubs killed means these boars are probably often killing their own offspring?

[marktwain]

Some is, but primarily it appears to be predation and territorial defense/protection.

From my reading, it is a mix of all of the above, with predation tops, then some benefit from females coming into estrus, and territorial mixed in.

Trying to get into a bears' minds to sort it all out is beyond human research.

[Travis McGee]

I don’t think the boar bears care.

They just want to get laid.

Also, as the old bears age out, they will be challenged and possibly killed by a younger bear. Makes sense to take them out first.

[Travis McGee]

Trying to get into a bears’ minds to sort it all out is beyond human research.

I think it boils down to 2 things in the boar’s mind, as stated just above.

1. Get laid
2. Take out future challengers

[marktwain]

25% of cubs killed means these boars are probably often killing their own offspring?

Yes. Bears are terrible as fathers. They do not protect cubs, they kill and eat them.

They kill and eat female bears a fair amount of the time as well. Just much harder for them to do that.

Bears will kill and eat anything they can overpower, when they are hungry (which is pretty common).

[lump in the melting pot]

I get that the bears don’t understand or care that it’s their own cubs they kill. I just wonder if it’s a self-defeating behavior for long-term genetic success, that should eventually be selected against.

[nikos1121]

So I have to sign up for instagram to watch this? Sorry, nope.

[Roccus]

ICBW, but I think the bears were doing just fine for a long time before humans decided to observe and record their life cycles.

[null and void]

For human children, the most dangerous words are “mommy’s new boyfriend”...

[marktwain]

So I have to sign up for instagram to watch this? Sorry, nope.

I am not signed up to instagram, and I watched it.

[Phoenix8]

Yes and I for one am sick of the mother getting a pass 90% of the time when she choose the violent scum boyfriend.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Big boar bears kill (and often eat) about 25% of cubs and young bears every year.”

It’s likely, somehow, someway, caused by climate change. Just wait, someone will say that.

[marktwain]

It’s likely, somehow, someway, caused by climate change. Just wait, someone will say that.

Already been done by those promoting polar bears as icons of "climate change".

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I just wonder if it’s a self-defeating behavior for long-term genetic success, that should eventually be selected against.

If so, they've had a few million years to get it sorted. This behavior is obviously not detrimental to the survival of the species.

[logi_cal869]

Time of the month?

/s

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***the most dangerous words are “mommy’s new boyfriend”...***

I was just thinking that. So many times we hear of it.

[Sertorius]

I like civilization where we have laws to protect the weak. Hopefully, we can turn around our current trajectory.