While fall is about to start bringing colder temperatures to Colorado, it’s important to remember that bears will remain active for at least several more weeks.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, bears stay active through early-November each year, then moving on to their winter dens as food becomes less readily available. Prior to that, bears remain in their hyperphagia phase, which can sometimes mean spending up to 20 hours a day on the hunt for food as members of the black bear species seek to consume up to 20,000 daily calories. For the sake of comparison, when bears aren’t in hyperphagia, they consume about 5,000 calories a day.

Given that several more weeks of hyperphagia are on the horizon for most of Colorado’s bears, it’s important to keep yards free of attractants, such as trash, water, and bird seed. This can increase the likelihood of a negative bear-human interaction, which can sometimes result in a bear being euthanized.

After months of winter hibernation, black bears will re-appear en masse around mid-to-late March.

It’s also worth noting that homeowners should be aware of black bears attempting to den on their property, with the space beneath outdoor decks sometimes being a place where hibernating bears are spotted. If this seems to be the case, contact the local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office and allow them to determine how to respond. It’s also worth noting that some bears may not hibernate at all during the winter season – especially those in urban environments where trash may be available year-round. Don’t let your guard down fully. Avoid leaving trash out year-round.