{"id":45147,"date":"2021-08-17T19:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T01:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/videos-highlight-need-to-keep-trash-vehicles-secure-during-bear-food-frenzy\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:23:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:23:44","slug":"videos-highlight-need-to-keep-trash-vehicles-secure-during-bear-food-frenzy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/videos-highlight-need-to-keep-trash-vehicles-secure-during-bear-food-frenzy\/","title":{"rendered":"Videos highlight need to keep trash, vehicles secure during bear \u2018food frenzy\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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A video shows a bear tipping over a wildlife-resistant trash can in the city of Durango. (Courtesy of the city of Durango)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Bears are packing on the pounds before the winter hibernation, which means it\u2019s time for humans to pack away unsecured food sources, like trash, bird seed and domestic fruit.<\/p>\n

Every year, bears enter a stage of hyperphagia, also known as \u201cfood frenzy,\u201d as they prepare for hibernation. During this stage, interactions with humans can increase slightly as bears try to consume 15,000 to 20,000 calories \u2013 or 14 to 18 McDonald\u2019s Big Mac combo meals \u2013 each day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re feeding about 20 hours a day,\u201d said Bryan Peterson, executive director of Bear Smart Durango. \u201cSo they\u2019re eating machines right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bears have been in the area for thousands of years, and their natural diet consists of native fruits, seeds and nuts.<\/p>\n

For bears, hyperphagia, or extreme hunger, is a biological mechanism that allows them to pack on hundreds of pounds as they prepare to survive winter in their dens, said Jamin Grigg, a senior wildlife biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.<\/p>\n

\u201cBears will remain localized if they find a good food source, or will travel dozens of miles if necessary in search of a better food source,\u201d Grigg said.<\/p>\n

\"Bear
Bear scat next to a knocked over trash can July 27 on Richard Drive in Durango. (Shane Benjamin\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Human-bear conflicts can increase in frequency during the food frenzy. In La Plata County, 76 people reported bear activity to CPW since July 1. Zero incidents have involved an attack or aggressive behavior, CPW said.<\/p>\n

A city like Durango can be an attractive option for hungry bears, particularly with trash cans that smell like a feast and fruit trees ripening in August and September.<\/p>\n

Bears are also highly intelligent and have a long memory for foraging areas. That means when they find a high-calorie human food source, and don\u2019t experience a negative consequence while there, they remember that spot and will likely return.<\/p>\n

Of the 76 reports to CPW, 23 were sightings, 14 related to outdoor food sources, and 33 were about bears getting into trash.<\/p>\n

In a recent video posted by the city of Durango, a bear ambled around a carport and knocked over a wildlife-resistant trash can in an unsuccessful attempt to find food.<\/p>\n

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