Who says bears can't be pumpkin fans too? This video shows that bruins might just love the fall staple as much as we do. A porch camera caught three bears perusing a lovely fall pumpkin display on the front steps. It must have looked good enough to eat, because this trio didn't hesitate to grab and break open the gourds.
We're guessing the homeowners put the pumpkins there just for those bears, right? These three little cubs don't bother to take their loot away from the front door, giving the cameras a perfect viewpoint. One devours his on the top of the steps while the other two are just a couple of feet away. The homeowner makes some noise from inside the home to get rid of the pumpkin thieves. Bears would rather not interact with people, so these three took the hint and tore off across the lawn.
From the camera angle, you can tell that one bear paused at the very edge, waiting at a safe distance to see if it could return. They were far enough away that the homeowner felt comfortable to partially open the door and survey the damage. Unfortunately, the bears didn't snag their leftovers in the escape. The homeowners were left to clean up the mess. If I were them, I'm not sure I would purchase a replacement!
Autumn often sees an increase in bear sightings. Food becomes more scarce, and they must fill their bellies to prepare for hibernation. Black bears often come down from the mountains and venture closer to people during what is known as the "fall shuffle." Wildlife biologist Chris Servheen told FOX Weather that the weather's impact on food sources affects when they trek to their winter dens. In fact, it can start as early as August, depending on the year. So while we may see pumpkins as part of our fall decor, bears see them as the perfect addition to their daily 20,00o calorie pre-hibernation diet.
