[finnsheep]

Bears going INTO hibernation need around 20,000 calories per day. That is not a typo. Coming out of hibernation, they are probably hungrier.

We live in the Poconos - - 75 miles from NYC - - on a farm that has been in the family for over 150 years. This is not a national park, but we have had bears come on three occasions and kill our livestock in the last 10 years. They are immensely powerful. The bear carried a 150 lb sheep over a 5' fence on one occasion. In 1980 there were about 3,000 bears in all of PA. Now there are five or more times that many. Many have never been hunted and have no fear of humans. Many have also been hand fed by people.

[HairOfTheDog]

The TN Wildlife guy on TV said these bears don't hibernate... very mild winter area. But available food would probably be at it's lowest right now.

[krb]

Bears going INTO hibernation need around 20,000 calories per day.

They should evolve into animal husbandry. They would totally score with some delicious cow.

If I were a bear, I'd raise cattle.

[familyop]

"Coming out of hibernation, they are probably hungrier."

It seems that most people assume that, and the assumption is understandable. But bear don't even eat for a few days after awakening. Then they begin to eat a little, and so on. They do get very hungry before going into hibernation, though.