As you may know, acorns are THE most important fall food for bears and other wildlife.  The ABR cubs were offered acorns a couple of weeks ago, and refused to eat them.  Their instincts told them that it wasn’t yet time to be eating acorns.  Now, however, they were given another chance, and look at these photos – the cubs are eating the nuts with great enthusiasm.  Acorns will help to put on more pounds that they need before release.

Eating acorns

Chowing down.

Closeup view.

It’s hard to believe, but bears do not eat the entire acorn – they crack it open and spit the shell out the sides of the mouth while eating just the nutritious and tasty nutmeat.  The size of the acorn crop in any given year determines the number of cubs that will be born during the winter.  If a female bear has not gained enough weight (eaten enough acorns) to sustain herself and cubs, she may not give birth at all, or else she may give birth to only one cub.