Black bears are the only bear species in Colorado and can vary in color from browns to blondes and of course black. The majority of black bears in Colorado are brown in color. They are omnivores and feed on a variety of foods, with the majority of foods being plants, berries, and nuts but meat, usually in the form of carrion, is a viable option.
Bears are on the move looking for much needed calories to survive through the year and prepare for the winter. It is critical that people are extra vigilant and proactive in removing all attractants from outside their homes and campsites. Bears actively search for 20,000 calories a day they need to hibernate successfully.
Compared to last year, natural food availability has increased and the outlook is promising. In August & September, this natural forage will provide valuable calories & result in less bear conflict.
Due to the increased human population in the state of Colorado, there are very few, if any, ideal sites to relocate a bear. With a report of a bear/human conflict CPW evaluates every situation individually and typically does not trap and relocate a bear because of location, getting into trash, or bird feeders. CPW recommends that homeowners remove any attractants that will cause a bear to be in the area. If a homeowner has a human/bear conflict, immediately contact CPW in order to evaluate the situation and mitigate the conflict. If not resolved in a timely manner it could result in habituation of bears to humans and cause potential further conflicts.
Once a bear is habituated to human food sources, even if it is trapped and relocated, it is likely to continue to search for human food sources. Bears can travel hundreds of miles and return to the original trap location.
Being proactive in removing attractants is the best way to avoid conflict and keep our bears wild. Some of the most common attractants are:
• Bird Feeders
• Trash
• Chickens/fowl
• Goats/livestock
• Camp trailers/tents/vehicles/ coolers
• Pet or livestock feed
• Outside freezers or refrigerators • BBQ grills/smokers
• Gardens/compost piles
• Bee hives
• Hot tub covers
• Foam seats on four wheelers, lawn furniture etc.
In order to minimize human and bear conflicts, it is recommended to remove or protect food sources and attractants from bears. One of the most proactive steps a homeowner can take is to remove bird feeders and secure trash with either a metal bear proof container or keeping trash inside and food scraps in the freezer until the morning of pickup. Store pet and livestock food in a secured building. Clean barbeque grills after each use, including the grease trap.
Smells remain in pet dishes even if empty so immediately remove pet dishes when your pet has finished.
Homeowners can use ammonia as a deterrent to cover the scent of food in trash containers or after cooking.
Remove outside freezers and refrigerators, as it is an easy food source for a bear, and will attract it to a house.
CPW Terrestrial Biologist Allen Vitt says “bears are very intelligent, and once bears associate food with humans in populated areas it can escalate from bird feeders or trash to breaking into a home or campsite, and ultimately requires CPW to euthanize the bear.”
To bear proof your house it is recommended to shut and lock your ground level windows and doors including garages regardless of temperatures; screens are not a deterrent to a bear. Bars can be put on your windows in areas with high bear populations. Unwelcome mats can be an effective deterrent, and help secure buildings. They can be electrified or built with nails or screws.
Unwelcome mat designs can be found at https://youtu.be/FLZpRYk4Z 8Y Bears have also been known to enter a residence through a ‘doggy door’ so secure those entrances when not at home, night etc. CPW District Wildlife Manager Bob Holder says “Please remember that the officers you are dealing with have a working knowledge of black bears, some with decades of bear interactions! Listen to their advice to save a bear …. and you! Remember, too, that a bear caught a second time is destroyed regardless of that bear’s activity. Don’t let your apathy destroy a bear….”
To protect livestock, chickens, gardens, and even beehives a landowner can add eclectic fences around the enclosures. For plans on how to build an electric fence enclosure please contact your local District Wildlife Manager, CPW office, or on the CPW website Fencing With Wildlife in Mind. Other ways to protect livestock can include getting guard dogs, motion lights, or securing your animals at night. CPW District Wildlife Manager Derek Brown says, “the best way to protect your trash and livestock is to place an electric fence around the attractants. If an electric fence is placed prior to a bear finding out that there is a food source, it is effective at protecting the attractant being utilized by bears. Once a bear finds a food source it will continue to return until it has consumed the food source, therefore it is important to take action before a bear arrives.”
When camping make sure there is no food or toiletries inside a tent. Change clothes after cooking and store them away from your sleeping area. Keep food in a locked vehicle with windows up or suspended in trees at a minimum of 10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from the tree trunk so bears cannot climb the tree and reach the food. While sleeping in a tent, sleep away from the side of the tent.
Remember that children's soiled diapers can be an attractant and are often overlooked when considering family tent camping scenarios. Keep bear spray or an air horn accessible to deter a bear from your camp. CPW District Wildlife Manager Justin Krall says “If a bear does not find any attractants at your residence or campsite, it will move on.”
Area Wildlife Manager Mike Brown says “A bear’s life starts and stops with their nose and stomach, from the time they leave their den to when they return, their sole focus is food and calories.”
CPW attempts to reduce the number of human bear conflicts through public education and outreach. In situations where human food sources continue to cause conflicts, Wildlife Officers have the discretion to issue citations to help conserve bear populations in Colorado.
For more information, please go to the website listed below or contact your local CPW office, District Wildlife Manager, or Terrestrial Biologist.cpw.state.co.us/learn /Pages/LivingwithWildlifeWil dBears.aspx