...and that is when they are hibernating. Bear habitat is being constantly invaded, and is making them come into habited areas more and more. They have got to my feeders twice in the last six months- once at the start of winter and once in early April. Deer generally would not bend over a pole, except for the most slender of poles. Ditto for raccoons, unless you have one of those rare 200 lbs Giant Raccoons (genus
biggus masked varmitius) visit.