Fall Feeding Frenzy | NDOW Shares Bear Safety Tips
Black bears are entering their fall feeding frenzy, and that means residents may see increased bear activity as the animals prepare for winter. On 2 Plus You Nevada, host Sarah Johns welcomes Kenzie Margiott from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) to explain hyperphagia, the seasonal period when bears dramatically increase their food intake to build fat reserves for the winter months.
Kenzie explains why bears can spend upwards of 20 hours a day eating and consume up to 20,000 calories, what residents can do to prevent bears from finding human food, and why securing garbage, pet food, grills, bird feeders and other attractants can help protect both people and wildlife. Plus, learn what to do if you encounter a bear, how to safely store food while camping, and why keeping bears wild starts with preventing them from becoming conditioned to human food.
🚨 Segment Highlights:
🐻 Understanding the Fall Feeding Frenzy
• Learn what happens when black bears enter hyperphagia
• Bears may spend upwards of 20 hours a day searching for food
• Discover why their appetite increases as they prepare for winter
🍔 Up to 20,000 Calories a Day
• A bear's daily fall intake can equal roughly 60 cheeseburgers
• Peak feeding activity can continue from early September into mid-November
• Bears are focused on building the fat reserves they'll need for winter
🗑️ Keep Human Food Away from Bears
• Put garbage out the morning of collection when possible
• Clean outdoor grills and bring pet food inside
• Remove or secure bird feeders, hummingbird feeders and other attractants
🏡 Protect Bears Around Your Neighborhood
• Bear-resistant garbage containers can help prevent access to trash
• Human food can negatively affect a bear's health and natural behavior
• Food-conditioned bears may increasingly enter neighborhoods and encounter vehicles
⚠️ What to Do If You Encounter a Bear
• Stay calm, give the bear space and avoid cornering or following it
• Make yourself appear larger and use a loud, firm voice
• Slowly create distance rather than turning your back on the animal
🏕️ Bear Safety While Camping & Outdoors
• Use available bear lockers to secure food and scented items
• Don't leave food or other attractive smells inside an accessible vehicle
• Bears have an extremely powerful sense of smell and may investigate potential food sources
🌐 More Bear Safety & Wildlife Information:
#BearSafety #NDOW #2PlusYouNevada
