Fertilized eggs lie dormant until denning. Once awake the search for food begins. Spring foods are scarce, so bears conserve their energy. Berries ripen in July and cherries in August. If the crop is good, these fruits provide ample food.
Acorns provide a source of winter fat.
Bears eat some high protein foods, including insects, fish, and higher animals. Though bears can run 30 miles per hour, they rarely run down prey. They prefer carrion, or easy prey such as fawns. Bobcats still live in the cove. They usually eat small game, but will kill small deer.