Bears are natural omnivores and opportunistic hunters, which means their diet varies from sweet berries to carrion and small mammals.
If you are homesteading with a few rabbits or have beloved pet bunnies, you may be wondering if your small mammal is at risk of being eaten by a bear.
Well, it is true that a bear will eat a rabbit. However, more than 50% of a bear’s diet consists of non-animal proteins. Bears love to feast on grasses, juicy berries, honey, seeds and nuts almost more than small mammals such as rabbits!
Bears As Predators: Do Bears Eat Animals?
While there are a total of eight bear species around the world, the most common found in North America are the brown bear and the black bear.
Brown bears are larger than black bears and frequent Northwestern areas of the continent where winter is harsh and game is more plentiful. Their primary foods include plant material, small mammals such as rabbits, fish, and some large game such as elk or moose. They do eat animals, although non-animal foods make up a large part of their diet.
Black bears are smaller, agile, and love to climb trees. Their range is in Northwest and Northeast areas of the continent. Black bears enjoy grasses, fruits, honey and insects and, occasionally, a black bear will eat a rabbit. Black bears (as well as brown bears) will also eat carrion they come across, taking advantage of any easy animal meat available.
Bears in other parts of the world have different diets, although most do enjoy some form of animal protein.
Do Polar Bears Eat Rabbits
Polar bears are mighty animals of the polar region and depend heavily on hunting and eating other mammals to survive. However, the majority of a polar bear’s prey is larger than an arctic rabbit.
While arctic rabbits are hunted by arctic foxes, wolves and other mid-sized predators, polar bears go after the larger game such as arctic foxes, seals, arctic wolves, and more.
As such, arctic rabbits are part of the polar bears food web but are not directly eaten by polar bears.
What Animals Do Bears Eat
Some of the most common animal prey that bears hunt, depending on their habitat, include:
- Elk
- Deer
- Mice
- Squirrels
- Rabbits
- Marmots
- Mountain Goats
- Foxes
- Wolves
That’s right, bears are quite opportunistic hunters with a wide range of potential prey.
How To Protect Rabbits From Bears
If you live in a ‘Bear Aware’ area, the best way to protect your rabbits is by housing them inside.
This can mean inside your house or a sealed shed or garage. Unlike other common rabbit predators, such as badgers or cats, bears are very strong and can tear apart a wooden rabbit hutch without problem.
In addition, keeping garbage and animal food in a sealed, bear-proof container and placing it far from your house and rabbits will also discourage a curious bear from nosing around farm and homestead areas.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Does A Bear Eat A Rabbit
Do Rabbits and Bears Eat the Same Thing?
Yes, in fact rabbits and bears do eat some of the same food items such as grasses, berries, and other green plant matter.
What Eats Rabbits?
Rabbits are natural prey animals and as such have a whole host of potential predators, some of which include:
- Foxes
- Owls
- Birds of Prey
- Snakes
- Bears
- Racoons
Final Thoughts on Does A Bear Eat A Rabbit
As we’ve discussed, although bears seem to prefer game other than large mammals and small rabbits, your bunnies may be an opportune meal for a local bear.
Be sure to secure your homestead or pet bunnies in an indoor space if you live in bear territory, as well as guarding food and garbage away from living spaces. These measures will leave little chance of a hungry bear discovering and eating your rabbit.
This Video Shows A Bear Starting to Break Into A Chicken Coop!