“What would be your first meal after hibernation?” asks Connecticut’s WFSB Channel 3 Eyewitness News in an Instagram post sharing a photo of a black bear about to enjoy a slice. “Like a true Nutmegger, this guy chose [pizza].” The photo shows a bear walking and carrying a piece of pizza in its mouth.
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The local news account credits the photo to Burlington, Connecticut resident Sherry Sheehan. The caption also reminds folks not to feed bears. “And this may be a sign to put your birdfeeders away,” WFSB adds.
In Connecticut, black bears typically wake up from their winter sleep in mid-March, and males tend to emerge before females. The bear in the photo seems to have emerged from its winter den a smidge early. Unfortunately, the bear sought out human food instead of foraging like it’s supposed to.
Although it’s common to say that bears “hibernate,” they are not true hibernators. Their bodies enter a state of torpor during the winter, when the weather is cold and food is scarce. The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection also says that in Connecticut, black bears can remain active for periods throughout winter, “especially if there is little snow cover and mild temperatures.”
See a black bear with a slice of pizza here: