It's Fat Bear Fall
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Wave goodbye to "brat summer" — Fat Bear Fall is officially upon us.
The (really) big picture: Black bears in Colorado are gearing up for the ultimate fall feast, spending this month gorging as much food as possible to pack on the pounds.
- To get chunky for the chilly months, these bears spend up to 20 hours a day stuffing their snouts with a whopping 20,000 calories, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
What they're saying: Wildlife officials expect to see more bear activity in urban areas through the end of October. Coloradans are advised to bear-proof their homes and campsites by keeping trash, bird seed, pet food and barbecue grills out of paws' reach.
Zoom out: Fat Bear Week kicked off this week! The beloved contest lets people pick their favorite fattened-up bear at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Go deeper: Fat Bear Week 2024 roars ahead after delay