Hi everyone, Ivan here.
Is it just me, or did the air change overnight? There’s that distinct crispness in the mornings now, and I’ve officially dug my favourite hoodie out of the back of the closet. While we are settling back into school and work routines, nature is shifting into a completely different gear.
If you’ve noticed more wildlife activity in your neighbourhood lately—maybe a bear knocking over a bin or a raccoon looking particularly bold—there is a biological reason for it. We are entering the season of Hyperphagia.
The 20,000-Calorie Diet
For us, fall is about pumpkin spice and cozy evenings. For our wild neighbours, specifically black bears, it is a desperate race against the clock. Hyperphagia is a state of excessive eating triggered by the shortening days.
A black bear needs to consume roughly 20,000 calories a day right now to put on the fat layers essential for surviving winter hibernation. To put that in perspective, that’s like a human eating dozens of cheeseburgers every single day. They aren’t trying to be pests; they are driven by an overwhelming biological imperative to survive. They are working overtime, and their noses are leading them to the easiest calories they can find.
Our Role in the Feast
This is where we come in. The most dangerous thing for a bear (or a coyote or raccoon) right now is a “free lunch” in a human neighbourhood. Once they learn that our backyards are easier sources of food than the forest, it rarely ends well for them.
Here are two things I’m focusing on this month, and I hope you’ll join me:
- The Fruit Tree Check: If you have apple, pear, or plum trees, they are likely dropping fruit right now. To a hungry bear, the scent of fermenting fruit on the ground is irresistible. Please, take an hour this weekend to pick your fruit and rake up the windfalls. If you have more than you can use, look for a local “gleaning” group that donates excess fruit to food banks.
- Lock Down the Leftovers: I know it’s a pain to wait until the morning of pickup to put the garbage out, especially when it’s raining. But right now, it’s non-negotiable. Freezing your smelly compost (meat scraps, bones) until collection day is another great trick to mask the scent.
We have the privilege of living in a place surrounded by nature. With that privilege comes the responsibility to ensure our habits don’t turn our wild neighbours into “problem animals.”
Let’s help them stick to their natural diet so we can all enjoy this beautiful season safely.
Best,
Ivan