Black bears are a common sight in Connecticut, and their population continues to grow across the state. These highly adaptable omnivores consume both plant and animal matter. This dietary flexibility allows them to thrive in diverse environments, from dense forestlands to areas closer to human habitation, contributing to their successful presence in Connecticut.
Primary Natural Foods
Black bears primarily rely on a diverse range of natural foods found within Connecticut’s forests and wetlands. A significant portion of their diet includes plant materials such as grasses, forbs (herbaceous flowering plants), roots, and tubers. These provide essential nutrients, especially during the spring when other food sources are scarce.
Berries and nuts form a substantial part of their natural diet, particularly as they become available throughout the warmer months. Bears consume various berries, including blueberries and raspberries, and seek out hard mast like acorns and beechnuts from mature forests. Black bears also consume insects such as ants, bees, and their larvae, often tearing apart logs to access them. They may also scavenge on carrion or occasionally prey on small mammals and deer fawns.
Seasonal Diet Variations
The diet of black bears in Connecticut changes significantly with the seasons, reflecting the availability of natural resources. In spring, as bears emerge from their dens, they feed on emerging green vegetation and young plants found in wetlands. They may also scavenge or seek out insects.
Summer brings an abundance of soft mast, making berries and other fruits a primary food source. Bears forage extensively on these seasonal offerings, which provide sugars and other carbohydrates. As summer transitions into fall, the diet shifts towards hard mast, such as acorns and beechnuts. This period, known as “hyperphagia,” involves bears eating for up to 20 hours a day to consume thousands of calories and build fat reserves for the upcoming winter denning period.
Opportunistic Food Sources
Beyond their natural diet, black bears in Connecticut are highly opportunistic and will readily consume human-associated food sources. These accessible, calorie-rich options can include garbage from bins, birdseed from feeders, and outdoor pet food. Bears are drawn to these food items due to their high caloric density and ease of access compared to foraging for natural foods.
Agricultural crops, such as corn, pumpkins, and other garden produce, also attract bears. They may forage in orchards, consuming fallen tree fruits like apples. The presence of these human-provided foods can cause bears to frequent residential areas, as they learn to associate these locations with easy meals.
Foraging Behavior
Black bears employ several behaviors to find and consume their varied diet. Their exceptional sense of smell is a primary tool, allowing them to detect food from long distances. This keen sense helps them locate natural food sources as well as human-provided attractants. Bears are agile climbers, enabling them to ascend trees to reach nuts and fruits that might otherwise be inaccessible.
They also use their strength and claws to access food. Bears can tear apart logs and overturn rocks to find insects, grubs, and other small prey. Their foraging activities often involve extensive searching and consumption.