Quick Take
- A bear named Rufus keeps coming back to the same porch, and what he's after is something most homeowners never think to remove. See the Georgia context →
- The moment before Rufus grabs the feeder, he does something that makes the whole encounter far more unsettling than a simple theft. Watch the unsettling footage →
- Black bears are omnivores, and one surprisingly calorie-dense human staple ranks among their top targets around homes. Explore their diet →
- Georgia wildlife officials have a specific warning for homeowners that most people ignore until it's too late. Read the wildlife warning →
This family has become familiar with a black bear that repeatedly visits their property, and the uploader even refers to the bear as “Rufus.” In the footage below, the bear makes another late-night appearance and leaves with something it clearly finds worth the trip: a bird feeder.
Black Bear Sighting in Georgia
The YouTube video at the bottom of this post was uploaded by Arrowhead Farm and shows a black bear walking onto a back porch at night. The original post associates the footage with Georgia, although the publicly available information for the video does not provide enough detail to independently confirm the exact location. Black bears are well established in Georgia, particularly in the northern part of the state as well as portions of central and southeastern Georgia.
The uploader describes the visitor as “Rufus” and says the bear walks onto the porch and takes the bird feeder right off its hook. That’s not unusual behavior for a bear that discovers an easy source of calories. Georgia wildlife officials specifically warn homeowners that birdseed and other grains are highly attractive to black bears.
Black Bear Vs. Bird Feeder
Black bears can run at speeds of around 30 miles per hour.
©Menno Schaefer/Shutterstock.com
At the beginning of the video, security-camera footage shows a black bear wandering onto the porch in the middle of the night. Black bears can become more active after dark around developed areas, particularly when they have learned that human properties offer easy access to food.
The bear briefly approaches the back door before moving toward a bird feeder hanging near the edge of the porch. It reaches up, grabs the feeder with its mouth, pulls it from the hook, and walks away with it. There is no need to guess what made the feeder interesting. Birdseed packs plenty of calories, and bears are opportunistic feeders that readily take advantage of concentrated food sources around homes.
What do Black Bears Eat?
The North American black bear (Ursus americanus) is an omnivore, meaning it eats both plant and animal matter. Omnivores can take advantage of a wide variety of foods, which is one reason black bears are so adaptable across their enormous North American range.
Black bears eat berries, fruits, grasses, roots, nuts, acorns, insects, carrion, and other foods depending on the season and where they live. They may also raid beehives for honeycomb and insects and occasionally eat fish or young mammals. Unfortunately, they are also quick to take advantage of human food, garbage, pet food, and other easy meals around homes and campgrounds.
Bird feeders fall into the same category. Georgia wildlife officials recommend removing them when bears are active because birdseed and grains are calorie-dense and can encourage bears to return to homes looking for another meal. Securing garbage, pet food, grills, and other attractants helps keep bears from becoming accustomed to finding food around people.
