It's that time of year when many residents in Acadiana may have unexpected visitors in their backyards. Those visitors are black bears.

That's right, black bears are fueling up for the winter, meaning they're on the prowl for food and it doesn't matter where they find it.

We met up with wildlife agents in Henderson where they were on the hunt for a bear that's been terrorizing the area.

The bear has been going through trash cans and took out the hives of one local beekeeper.

He tells us the damage done is worth thousands of dollars.

Paul Marckese: "I'll probably wind up losing part of my crop in the spring and summer of next year because of this. It's gonna take a while to bounce the bees back from this."

Wildlife agents weren't able to catch the bear, but they have left a trap out with food inside to lure the bear.

Agents tell us now is the time that bears are fueling up for winter, and they don't care where they find their food.

"Their natural food supply at this time of year is in decline. Usually they're going from soft mass which would be berries, fruits, things like that, to hard mass things like pecans, acorns, hickory nuts, things like that" says agent Maria Davidson.

Agents tell us residents in Saint Mary Parish, specifically in Franklin and Patterson, and those in Iberia Parish around New Iberia and Lydia should take additional steps to try and avoid leaving open trash containers filled with food around their property.

That includes keeping bags of pet food inside instead of storing it outdoors under a carport or in a shed.