Colorado Parks and Wildlife is warning Summit County residents that bear-human interactions are expected to increase over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Hyperphagia is the increased feeding activity in bears that happens in the late summer and early fall before hibernation. In this stage, bears will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to eat more than 20,000 calories to fatten up for winter.<\/p>\n
Significant portions of Colorado — including Summit County \u2014 experienced a late freeze in May, resulting in the loss of a majority of food sources above 7,000 feet in elevation. This, coupled with the continued drought across Colorado, will have bears on the move looking for much-needed calories to survive through the year and prepare for the winter. This can include trash, bird seeds, barbecue grills and pet food, but a black bear\u2019s natural diet consists of berries, fruits, nuts, plants and grasses.<\/p>\n
Parks and Wildlife is encouraging residents to keep potential attractants in well-secured locations to help limit any interactions with bears.<\/p>\n
Read the full story from our partner at summitdaily.com.<\/p>\n