Black Bear in Hyperphagia
Black Bears in Hyperphagia Love Choke Cherries
It was the end of August two years ago. The choke cherries had ripened to a deep purple, and the black bears were in hyperphagia. Despite being in RMNP almost daily either photographing wildlife, the dynamic images of the park, or guiding a RMNPhotographer Tour, I had only spotted a couple of black bears that summer.
I knew where several choke cherry bushes were, the berries having transitioned from red to purple. As I drove the park, my eyes searched the choke cherries stands knowing the black bear would be seeking them out.
In hyperphagia, the bears were gorging themselves preparing for hibernation. Thus the term, hyper meaning “over” and phagia meaning “hunger.” During this time, bears spend their waking hours eating and can gain up to four pounds a day, bulking up with enough fat stored to make it through the winter.
As I drove the park searching, my disappointment was growing. I was about to give up when I spotted the unmistakable hump of a reddish phase black bear moving through the bushes. Smiling, I said to myself, “There you are.”
Pulling over, I climbed from my SUV, camera in hand, and moved to the edge of the road. From there, I searched the bushes watching for the reddish hump to appear once again.
Cautious and keeping my distance, I continued to maneuver the edge of the road, but the bear was nowhere to be seen. Stepping up, I moved just above the road, my eyes scanning the distant hillside. Still, I could not find her.
Disappointed, I looked up toward the sky wondering where she might have disappeared to. That’s when I saw them high up in a towering ponderosa pine. One was sleeping with its legs dangling down each side of a branch. The other sat on a neighboring branch, looking sweet and innocent despite the intent look as her eyes stared down at me. They were late summer twin black bear cubs with a hint of red in their coats.
I moved to my right, adjusting for better light with the sun more at my back. As I moved, the one cub watched me. I lifted my camera, extending my lens to its full 600 mm while staying a good distance away. Looking through the viewfinder, I knew I’d be able to draw the cubs in more on my computer bringing them full-frame into the picture.
Snapping several images, I lowered the camera searching for mama bear. Just thinking “mama bear” gave me the willies. Nervous. knowing she must be near, I scanned the choke cherries, but she was not in the bushes.
She was Protective of her Cubs
As I glanced back up toward the cubs, that’s when I spotted her. In the tree, between the ground and her twin cubs, mama bear was standing on one branch, leaning over another, and watching me. It was ominous, eerie, and frightening. Even though I was a safe distance away, to have her watching me from the tree made me feel a little like potential hamburger.
Almost a natural reaction, I lifted my camera. She moved to sit on a branch, still aware of me. I knew two things. While I was well away from her, she was protective of her cubs, and my presence had disturbed her.
That’s when I began moving backwards away from the bears in the tree onto the road and to my SUV. At the same time, mama bear suddenly ran head first down the tree, landing on the ground looking at me where she sat watching and protective.
Having seen the speed and agility of her running down the tree, the willies became more intense. While I thanked mama bear for sharing her babies with me, I knew I should leave her at peace with her cubs and the choke cherries, eating for her winter health.
Driving away, I breathed deeply, exhilarated.
One year later, I was in the park about 200 yards from where I’d seen the sow and her cubs. As I drove up, there was a crowd of people on one side of the road, cameras and cell phones in hand pointing across to the other side.
As I stepped from my vehicle, I saw her. A reddish phase yearling black bear was eating the choke cherries. While I took her picture, I smiled wondering if this could be one of the cubs. Had she returned to the same area to enjoy the fruit that tasted like the most bitter and driest or wines?
The young bear watched the tourists, scooting away from the choke cherries only to be drawn back to the flavor despite the presence of people. I smiled at her, more mature and independent enjoying the fruit she’d grown up on.
