fall bear foods

Here are some examples of foods that black bears eat in our area from summer to late fall. In years when they are available, bears eat little else once acorns ripen (when they turn brown) and will feed on acorns until they hibernate. Acorns are crucial for bears trying to pack on fat, with one cup of acorns providing around 880 calories. Other foods that bears turn to include, (from top to bottom):

 

• thimbleberry

• elderberry

• chokecherry

• serviceberry

• squawapple

• acorns

• buffaloberry

• gooseberry

• rose hips (the fruit of wild rose)

• twinberry 

all photos by Bryan Peterson. Locations: Perins Peak SWA, Missionary Ridge, Powerline Trail, Lightner Creek and the Smiley Building.