Bears in the Beehive

🐻🍯 Do Bears Really Love Honey? A Closer Look

When you picture a bear, what comes to mind? For many of us, it’s a cuddly (yet ferocious) creature with its paw in a honey pot. Thanks to cartoons, classic children’s books, and pop culture, bears and honey are an inseparable duo in our imaginations. But how accurate is this sticky stereotype?

Myth: Bears Love Honey More Than Anything

While bears do eat honey when they come across it, it’s not the main reason they target beehives. What they’re really after is the high-protein bee larvae and pupae found inside the hive.

Honey provides a quick source of calories, which is useful—especially before hibernation—but bears are omnivores that rely on a diverse diet. Insects, berries, roots, and small animals are all part of what they eat. Beehives are attractive because they offer both sugar (from honey) and protein (from the brood), not because bears have a unique craving for honey.

So, while bears will eat honey when it’s available, it’s inaccurate to say they seek it out above all else.

Conclusion

The idea that bears are obsessed with honey is largely a myth. They’re opportunistic feeders, and a beehive offers a valuable combination of nutrients. Honey alone isn’t the main draw.

But just because honey isn't bears favorite food, doesn't mean it can't be yours! Shop our raw and liquid honey below. 👇😋

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