Why Idaho Bears Are More Grumpy Now Than At Anytime Of Year

As Idahoans prepare to flip calendars into October soon, many state outdoor enthusiasts are going to be heading to the mountains over the next couple of weeks to get that final camping trip in before the ground freezes and nights become too frigid to tent camp.

Crossing paths with a bear while out in the Idaho backcountry happens from time to time. Hunting season is also underway in the Gem State, and the more off-grid a person goes camping in October, the chances increase of having a bear encounter.

As far as bears are concerned, early fall is when most are filling their bellies with food in preparation for a 16- to 20-week slumber. Bears get 'hangry' just like humans do.

Early Fall Is The Time Of Year Bears Tend To Get The Most Aggressive As They Search For Food Before Hibernation

Credit: Greg Jannetta

Hyperphagia is a bear's tendency to aggressively feed in the weeks before they hibernate, according to Eagle Eye Adventures.

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Idaho Fish and Game has published tips to decrease the odds of having a bear encounter this time of year. Remember to conceal food and lock up garbage, keep cooking grills and portable stoves clean after use, camp in numbers, and be alert, according to F&G.

Be cautious outdoors over the next six to eight weeks as bears are aggressively feeding. Bears are known to enter campsites, and when it comes to the scent of food, they are fearless and will attack out of hunger in early fall.

Have fun. Be safe.