Bears increasingly spotted in Nanaimo as fall hyperphagia ramps up before hibernation

The Story

Bears are being sighted more often around Nanaimo, and authorities say the increase is typical for this time of year as animals become more active in fall to gather food and store fat before hibernation.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said a warning was issued Monday about a bear in upper Colliery Dam Park. It also pointed to multiple reports from the past week, including a post by the Nanaimo branch of St. John’s Ambulance showing a mother bear and two cubs on a trail in Buttertubs Marsh.

Authorities and wildlife specialists said bears enter a feeding stage known as hyperphagia, or “extreme eating,” during which they must consume about 20,000 calories per day to build fat reserves that can carry them through colder months.

Wildlife biologist Helen Davis, a researcher with Artemis Wildlife Consultants, said winter denning can last up to six months on Vancouver Island for females that are giving birth, explaining that hibernation is part of how bears survive months when food is limited.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said food availability may be reduced this season due to drought conditions, wildfires and poor berry crops. That combination can make bears more likely to seek food around people, including birdseed, pet food, fruit on trees and other human-accessible sources.

WildSafeBC and the Conservation Officer Service urged residents to secure garbage to reduce the chances of bears becoming habituated to human food. If food becomes readily available, Davis said bears may not need to den, or may den for a shorter period, relying on accessible meals to get through the time when natural food is scarce.

The reports also reflect specific recent incidents described by residents. One Nanaimo resident, John Szabo, said he saw a black bear near Avonlea Drive around 1 a.m. on Tuesday while walking his dog near the Jingle Pot Road area; he reported that bins were knocked over and trash was scattered.

Another resident, Terri Ballendine, said she saw a mother bear and two cubs on Monday morning in an empty grass lot across from the SPCA on Westwood Road. She said the sighting was unusual for her, adding that she had never previously seen cubs, though her security camera had recorded a bear “galloping” through her front yard into her backyard on Feb. 21.

With the season shifting into peak foraging, the guidance from wildlife officials emphasizes avoiding leaving attractants outside and treating bear sightings as a sign that bears are actively searching for energy before winter.