Skip to content

Letter: A fat bear is a healthy bear

The bears are still up, about and eating. They need their space and to be away from human foods more than ever
22048942_web1_letters-fwm-0703-letterw_1
Email letters to editor@yukon-news.com

Now is the time: it is October, bears are in the final stages to fatten up for the winter before entering their dens.

During this state, called hyperphagia, bears are constantly in search of food. “Hyper” means over and “phagia” means hunger. It is a period of excessive eating and drinking to fatten up for hibernation. Starting in September, bears might spend 22 hours a day in search of food, gaining up to four pounds daily. During this time, they must consume ten times as many calories as they need during the spring and summer to meet the proper weight required to survive the harsh winter conditions. This means they must take in 20,000 calories or more per day while conserving as much energy as possible, mostly foraging on berries, roots and road kill in some instances.

Once bears enter their dens, they go without food or water for the entire winter months, until the snow melts. This is a particularly vulnerable time for female bears as the survival of her cubs depends on her physical condition as she enters hibernation. She gives birth during this stage, nursing the tiny newly born cubs throughout the winter. If she has not accumulated enough body fat, prior to hibernation, she will reabsorb the embryo.

The search for high volumes of food at any time can be dangerous for humans and bears, though. Every fall, the number of bear-related conflicts may increase, as the animals are likely to seek out human-occupied areas which in many cases offer food sources, such as bird seed, which are accessible without effort.

In Whitehorse alone, over 60 conflicts with bears had been reported at the end of August. Final data will be available at the end of the season.

These conflicts are largely avoidable with the introduction of bear proof garbage and compost bins, increased intervals for garbage pick up to avoid overflowing bins, removal of attractants such as dirty barbecues, bird feeders, compost piles, or pet food stored outside. Bears are capable of sensing food kilometres away. Therefore:

  • Make sure anything that might attract a bear is safely out of sight, smell and reach.
  • Avoid or be extra alert when driving or walking at dawn and dusk.
  • Install electric fencing around your chicken coops, compost piles and rabbit enclosures.
  • Check the yard before letting out your animal companions.
  • Don’t forget your bear spray, when you go hiking.
  • Make lots of noise so bears know you are coming.
  • Keep your dog on a leash.
  • Consider buying personally or request from the municipality they subsidize residential bear proof waste bins for community members.

We live in bear country and can coexist if we take proper precautions and avoid making bears residents of our communities.

Annette Belke, President

Grizzly Bear Protection Yukon Society

Tagish