If you have followed ABR or if you’re familiar with a black bear’s life cycle, you know that every year in late summer through fall they enter a state called hyperphagia. This scientific term refers to the annual “feeding frenzy” that compels bears of every age to increase their eating and consume great quantities of food (primarily acorns and other nuts) as they prepare their bodies for their fast during winter and hibernation. We expect this to occur in September each year. But this year seems to be different – it appears that the normal hyperphagia routine has been accelerated, and the cubs are beginning earlier than usual!

All twelve of the ABR cubs, in each enclosure, are getting up at dawn and beginning to forage immediately.

Here are the “T” cubs in Wild Enclosure #3, before the camera switched from night to day view. All four of them are busily foraging.

They were finding food in every part of the enclosure.

These two seem to be conferring about the foraging opportunities and where to find the best food.

In Wild Enclosure #4, it was the same story. Busy foragers!

Don’t miss a single peanut!

Look at these cubs in Wild Enclosure #1. They aren’t missing any food, either!

Four arrows pointing to the four foraging cubs.

Even Heather, our yearling in the Recovery Center, is busy eating. We aren’t sure if she is feeling the effects of hyperphhagia or simply trying to make up for her low weight, but she is eating a lot, also!

Stay tuned to see if this lasts or if it is just an early peek into what lies ahead as fall arrives.