Since autumn is only a few weeks away and cooler weather is around the corner, I decided to devote a blog post to black bears and their eating habits during the changing season.
While we’re starting to think about apples, pumpkin spice, and all those cozy fall foods, the black bears wandering past our trail cameras have something else on their minds—eating… lots of eating during their hyperphagia phase (an unusually strong increase in appetite)! Apparently, black bears have their own grocery list!
🛒 And What’s in the cart?
🌰 Acorns & nuts — Fall’s high-calorie favorite.
🫐 Berries & wild fruit — Whatever late-summer treats are still hanging around.
🐜 Insects — A little extra protein never hurts.
🌿 Plants & greens — Bears aren’t skipping the produce aisle!
🍎 Seasonal fruit — If nature is serving it, a bear may be interested.
Our trail cameras have been catching bears quietly wandering through the woods behind the cabin, sometimes after dark. I like to imagine they’re checking the aisles to see what September has stocked overnight.
Now watch the real bears
And as fall gets closer, finding food becomes serious business for our furry neighbors.
So if you hear a rustle in the woods this September, somebody might just be out grocery shopping—with a shopping cart in tow. 🐻🛒🍂
Note: As always, we admire our bears from a safe distance and never intentionally feed them. Wild bears belong wild.
Warm Regards,
Debra
