MISSOURI (KFVS) - The Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding people that more than 1,000 black bears are currently foraging for food to fatten up.

Conservationists say this can lead to encounters between bears and people, pets and property.

According to MDC Furbearer Nate Bowersock, it’s important that people remove or secure things that can attract bears onto their property, including bird feeders, trash, barbeque grills, pet food and food waste.

“Black bears are super-focused on finding food in the fall,” said Bowersock. “The quest for calories keeps bears active and foraging up to 20 hours a day. When the eating is good, a bear can put on two to three pounds a day. By hibernation time, many bears will have added about four inches of fat and gained between 20% and 50% of the

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