(COLORADO) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said it might be surprising, but seeing big bears in the spring is more common than one might think.

According to CPW, while bears do lose weight during the winter months, it isn’t incredibly dramatic, and they come out of their dens only a little smaller. Now, near the end of May, bears have been active for about a month, eating grasses and other plant material to wake up their stomachs.

CPW said it is important for bears to stay on natural food sources this time of year and all year. CPW is warning the public that as bears become more active, people need to do their part, such as storing trash properly, limiting access to human food, and being bear aware.

According to CPW’s website, bears are active from mid-March through early November. In the fall, bears enter a period of compulsive overeating (hyperphagia). Bears start feeding for 22 hours a day and need to gain 20,000 calories a day to survive hibernation.

CPW said bears will work hard to get the calories they need, and can easily damage property, vehicles, and homes. Bears are also very smart, and have great memories – once they find food near homes, campgrounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more.