I had one couple years ago come right up to mine. Good thing i built a metal lockable box for it otherwise it would've been chewed up. There was scratches all over the tree around it.

 

Yes. I have had bears mess with them. I have 10x more problems with the Elk though. They just can't stop knocking them around or chewing on the cables. I can't use external batteries for that reason.

 

Ya I've had bears smacking them around and one bite a hole in it. I'm not putting my new one out until I get a bear safe case for it.