Ellijay, GA The Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bears would like to remind the public that fall has arrived.

The leaves have started turning at the higher altitudes, children and young adults alike are returning to school, and Southeastern Conference football heralds the arrival of fall.

For those not familiar with the biological clock of the American Black Bear, late summer, and early fall heralds a time know as Hyperphagia, or excessive eating. They must eat a lot of food to store fat for the winter. Bears all over North American are entering Hyperphagia now.

Black Bears are opportunistic feeders. A 250-pound male Black Bear must eat 3,000 calories a day to maintain weight, which is approximately 1.5 lbs. of acorns a day. On top of all these calories needed for daily living they must consume 20,000 calories/day or about 20 lbs. of acorns during Hyperphagia to gain the needed 3-5 lbs./day needed for hibernation.

Garbage kills bears

Two-thirds of all Human-Bear conflict is bears accessing human garbage. In addition to the dangers of being around humans, they ingest packaging that damages their teeth chewing metal cans which will cause intestinal damage and result in a painful death. The human food causes tooth decay, increasing the likelihood of abscesses that will kill them. Natural food does not!

It is more important now to secure attractants to reduce the possibility of having Human-Bear conflicts. This comes in the form of garbage, birdseed, hummingbird feeders, pet food, livestock food, greasy BBQs, smokers, and fish cookers, and other wildlife foods accessed by Black Bears. These attractants teach them to approach homes and humans for more food.

Today there is a general agreement that most Human-Bear conflicts are the result of human behavior. There is no such thing as a nuisance, or problem Bears. Bad human behavior begets bad bear behavior.

The Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bears is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to reduce Human-Bear conflict through proactive educational outreach programs, increasing public awareness about coexisting with black bears, the use of humane bear deterrents, and advocacy. Visit them at https://agfriendsofthebears.com or their partners at BearWise.org

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American Black Bears entering their excessive eating phase | The Clayton Tribune, Rabun County, GA - Clayton Tribune