The Interesting Reason You Are Seeing More Bears this Fall

You can't get on social media these days and not see someone talking about a wildlife encounter. Owls, bears, deer, turtles, and more are all out there sharing our world and roads.

Over the next few weeks, our Hudson Valley Wildlife will be readying themselves for Winter. There will be lots of activity. You will need to watch out for deer jetting into the road and of course, the occasional suicidal squirrel who waits for you to come along before he jumps in the road. Another member of the wildlife family you need to keep track of is the bear.

Bear Are Out Looking For Food in the Hudson Valley

You may think just because you live in a populated area that you don't have to be concerned about bears but each year the bears remind us they aren't afraid to branch out to a neighborhood or two where food can be more accessible.

Late in the season last year a bear was busy raiding trash cans full of holiday leftovers from Thanksgiving in the Village of Port Ewen in Ulster County. He eventually moved on but not before causing some damage.

NYS DEC Video About Bears and Human Food Sources

Even though the video below is directed more about bears waking up from their winter slumber and being hungry, the lesson applies to this time of year as well. Bears will be looking to store up calories for the winter so making sure you are Bear Wise is just as important in the Fall.

According to information shared this week by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) bears are entering a period where they are actively searching out food in order to prepare for winter hibernation. They have switched up their diets and are basically power-eating over the next few weeks. This eating binge is called hyperphagia.

SEE Also: Bear Found Sleep In A Tree At SUNY New Paltz

The NYS DEC goes on to say that during this time a bear typically consumes 20,000 calories a day. They are putting on weight and storing fat so that they can make it through the Winter. This time of year it takes hours of foraging for a bear to reach its calorie count by eating acorns and things found in the woods which is one of the reasons they go looking for human food.

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