bearwise Archives - Parks Blog

It’s May — what are Black Bears up to?

Planning a visit and wondering whether you’ll see a Black Bear? Tune in to our monthly Black Bear feature where our ecologists let you know common bear behaviour for the month or season.

Spring is upon us, and Ontario’s Black Bears are ready for another season of eating to gain fat for winter hibernation.

While young bear cubs are sticking close to their moms, yearling bears (bears that are about a year and a half) may be leaving and striking out on their own for the first time in search of food. (Your actions really make a difference for young Black Bears this month!)

Here’s what our bears are up to this month:

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It’s October – what are the bears up to?

It’s getting a bit cold, there’s not much food anymore, and Black Bears are thinking seriously about having a long nap.

Black bears in Ontario Parks start heading to the den by mid-October.

We know you have questions about Black Bears’ big sleeps, so let’s go through for FABQs (frequently asked bear questions):

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It’s September — what are the bears up to?

The nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the bears know there is limited time to finish packing on the pounds before retiring to their winter dens.

Food will only be available until about mid-October, so the days of feasting are quickly ending.

Like the summer, in September bears are focused on eating. But these days, that focus reaches a whole new level, called hyperphagia.

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It’s August — what are Black Bears up to?

Ontario’s Black Bears are busy looking for food in August!

They only have a few a short months before they go into hibernation.

In August, Black Bears are focused on finding delicious berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

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How to be a Bear Wise visitor

Black Bears live across Ontario in forested areas where they can find enough food, shelter, and denning sites. Our provincial parks are their home, and over 90% of our parks are in bear country.

A safe bear sighting during one of your adventures with Ontario Parks can be a lasting memory. Educating yourself about bears before your visit is important and the mark of a responsible park visitor.

We want to share space with bears, keeping our human visitors and all our wildlife residents safe.

If you’re planning a visit, here are some important safety tips about Black Bears:

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