Colorado Parks and Wildlife has received reports of bear activity in 14 different Colorado counties this year as the animals start coming out of winter hibernation.
As bears awake, they tend to fall into a "walking hibernation," which usually lasts from 2-3 weeks. During those weeks, bears are essentially looking for food — whether it fits within their normal omnivorous diet or not.
While bears are in walking hibernation, everyday items like bird feeders can attract them to residential areas. According to a CPW news release, bird feeders are the number one cause for bear and human interactions, with 1,073 conflicts between bears and humans caused by bird feeders from 2019 to 2021.
"Birds have naturally available food sources during the spring, summer and fall," the news release stated "Don't let your bird feeder become a bear feeder."
Avoiding attracting a bear not only keeps residents safe, it also keeps the bears as safe and healthy as possible.
"If people see a bear, they should actively try to haze it away and can do so in a manner that is comfortable and safe for them," Jason Clay, a spokesperson for CPW, said. "That could be getting an air horn to blow out your window, setting off your car alarm when you see one, banging pots and pans together."
Like pets, bears also respond to unusual foods as a positive reinforcement, but in this case that is bad for the bears.
"Every time a bear gets a treat, a bird feeder, a hummingbird feeder, or trash, it teaches the bear that people mean food," said Mark Lamb, CPW's Area Wildlife Manager for Area 1 that covers Park, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties along with the western half of Jefferson County in a news release.
Bear reports in residential areas are usually met with CPW officers educating the community, completing house visits to help bear-proof the home and hazing bears in an attempt to scare them away from humans, according to the CPW website. In special circumstances, they will attempt to relocate the bear. In severe circumstances, the bear will be euthanized.
The CPW website lists tips for residents to keep their property as bear-free as possible. Some items on the list include keeping garbage in a well-secured enclosure and using bear-resistant trash cans or dumpsters.
The full list can is at bit.ly/3K1jwpX.
Residents can report bear activity to CPW by calling 303-291-7227 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Residents can report urgent incidents to Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501, which will relay information to an on-call wildlife officer. If it is an emergency, dial 911. Bears seen in Boulder can be reported to the city's nonemergency dispatch line at 303-441-4444. Do not follow and or disturb bears seen in the city.
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