hyperphagia

During this period, known as "hyperphagia," bears take risks to obtain more calories—like stealing wolves' food, says Aimee Tallian, a scientist with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research who studies wolf-bear interactions.

It’s even “fairly common,” Bryant said, for bears to be struck by vehicles in the fall when the animals are in hyperphagia — consuming as much food as possible before hibernation.

Bears are about to enter a stage called hyperphagia to prepare for winter.

In the fall, bears binge-eat before hibernation, a period called hyperphagia, and elk, caribou, moose and other hoofed animals compete for mates during the weeks-long rut.

Hank became one of the neighborhood’s least-wanted residents in July, which is around the time that bears enter hyperphagia, a period when they bulk up on calories before they hibernate for the winter, according to the National Park Service.