Grizzly Bear vs. Electric Deer

Bears are smarter than we give them credit for! Watch the amazing moment a grizzly bear overcomes an electrified obstacle to snag some deer meat.

Researchers in Montana set up an electrified road-killed deer carcass in an effort to find a solution for protecting hunters’ game kills and, in turn, minimize bear-human encounters. Electric fences are sometimes used to prevent bears from accessing protected areas, and generally work quite well. In this instance though, not so much.

The team used a battery-powered electric fence energizer as a deterrent. The bear, however, is determined and persistent — and proved to be too smart for these particularly shocking tactics.

The animal initially responds to the shock by retreating, as we would expect. However, he ends up coming back later in the day for another try. After repeatedly pawing at the battery, the bear lucks out by disconnecting the power source. He then carefully bats at the carcass until it comes tumbling down. The bear then yanks the carcass off of the tree, and off he went with his prized meal.

Grizzly bears have an excellent memory and are extremely intelligent and curious. They’re known for their problem-solving abilities, including breaking into “bear-proof” trash cans, opening door latches, and manipulating barriers. They’ll even use objects as tools, like using a stick to scratch their back or a shell to take care of an itchy on their face. We’ll have to try harder to outsmart these guys.

Watch the video below:

You can learn more about this group’s efforts to conserve grizzly bears here.