Documentation of an Asiatic black bear preying on a living sika deer caught in a leg-hold snare trap

Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) rarely prey on living adult deer. We report video documentation, obtained May 2024, of a bear subduing and killing a sika deer (Cervus nippon) that was captured in a leg-hold snare trap, then staying in the area for repeated feeding visits. Leg-hold snare traps for deer capture are widely used in Japan for population control of high deer densities. The predation by bears on deer with restricted movements in this study shows that deer trapping by humans may be providing bears with a new form of deer as a food resource. If bears perceive such a deer as a regular food resource, it may have some effect on bears' ecology (e.g., feeding habits, behavior). In addition, through foraging on captive deer, bears could endanger trappers and the general population. Our record highlights the necessity of evaluating trap management practices to mitigate risks to humans and wildlife.