One of the most exciting things about moving to the Greenhorn Valley can be the endless variety of wildlife you are able to view on a daily basis. They are so cute!
It is hard to not want to feed them and bring them closer to view, and even harder to not unintentionally feed them. Keeping the wild in the wildlife is the best thing you can do for them and for yourself.
Most black bear encounters in the wild rarely lead to aggressive behavior, and attacks are rare. However, if that bear is used to being fed and comes to breakfast one morning hungry (and bears are always hungry) only to find there is no breakfast waiting for them, they are going to destroy things to find breakfast.
Bears are smart enough and strong enough that barriers like car or house doors or windows don’t mean a lot to them if they smell food inside. It's important not to provide attractants or shelter for wildlife in or around homes or vehicles. Bears can easily open vehicle doors. Be sure to keep your vehicle doors locked and never leave food in your vehicle.
Bears prefer to avoid contact with humans, but with such a heightened sense of smell they can be sorely tempted. According to the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services newsletter, bears are thought to have the best sense of smell of any animal on earth. For example, the average dog’s sense of smell is 100 times better than a human’s. A blood hound’s is 300 times better. A bear’s sense of smell is seven times better than a blood hound’s, or 2,100 times better than a human’s. It is pretty easy for Mama Bear to smell out that sack of open chips in the seat of the car, even with the windows up. Or the bowl of fruit just inside the partially open kitchen window, or the forgotten hamburger on the grill. All seem to be an open invitation for a snack to her.
Bears also have incredible memories and, once they encounter a food source, they’re unlikely to forget about it and will return to that place time and time again. When that food source is associated with humans, it can become dangerous for both people and bears.
A rash of increased bear activity in the area inspired a partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Beulah Fire Department that has received funding to help aid humans in living with wildlife. With the bears great nose and memory, even though you may not have trash in the can after pickup, the odor is still there and this draws bears into human areas. Colorado Wildlife code requires that trash cans be kept in a secured area and only put out on trash pickup mornings.
Beulah Fire, in partnership with CPW, also has a solar electric fence loaner program if you are a small animal or bee hobbyist and need help protecting your housing area.
Live with the wildlife, enjoy their antics, but do your part to help keep the wildlife wild!