Hyperphagia (ecology)

In behavioral ecology, hyperphagia is a short-term increase in food intake and metabolization in response to changing environmental conditions.

Hyperphagia occurs when fat deposits need to be built up over the course of a few days or weeks, for example in wintering birds that are preparing to start on their spring migration, or when feeding habitat conditions improve for only a short duration.

During the autumn months, American brown bears consume a large amount of hard masts and berries.

[6] Bears living near human settlements may break into buildings or vehicles to eat any food left inside.

[8] In some rare cases, the amount of food available from human activity is enough to disrupt regular hibernation behaviour.

Two contrasting photographs of the same bear. In the second photo, the bear is carrying a large amount of fat
A brown bear in Katmai national park, seen in July and in September.