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This is a season for feasting—and it extends beyond humans. Gavin Quinton recently reported for the Los Angeles Times on a black bear that followed a South Lake Tahoe resident into his home and then stayed briefly before exiting: Fall is the time of year when bears really begin to think with their stomachs. Some will double their weight to prepare for wintertime hibernation, often scavenging for calories for up to 20 hours per day. This feeding frenzy, called hyperphagia, drives them farther from their usual range and into neighborhood dumpsters in search of easy meals. Mr. Quinton quotes Ashley Zeme of the Nevada Department of Wildlife: “During hyperphagia, a bear entering a home would be more likely,” she said, noting that bears are seeking a staggering 20,000 to 25,000 calories a day as winter approaches.
Operating without a hyperphagia diagnosis, your humble correspondent can’t promise to consume 25,000 calories on Thursday but intends to make an honest effort.
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