Any kids that go to the Aspen School District Middle School and happened to be sick on Monday would have had a hard time believing the stories their classmates told them the next day. At some point early Monday morning, a small black bear cub managed to break into the school.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to the Aspen Police Department and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, were called to the school to help with the bear situation. The animal had reportedly sniffed its way into the school cafeteria, no doubt impressed by the smell of middle school lunch.
All students were sent to the other building on the middle school’s campus while officers took care of the situation. The cub was captured and relocated, and students were back in class by 9:30am.
“Please remember to secure all doors and windows overnight or when you are not home, as local bears are in the midst of preparing for their upcoming winter hibernation.” – Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office
During the fall, black bears enter a phase called hyperphagia, were they overeat as much as they possible can. They’ll eat 20,000 calories a day, damaging property, vehicles, and homes in their endless search for food. It’s important that those living in bear territory remain bear aware, keeping any attractants locked away so the smell won’t attract them.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife on “Be Bear Aware”:
“Bear-proofing your home:
- Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
- Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
- Keep garage doors closed. Do not leave pet food or stock feed outside.
- Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
- Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
- Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
- Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
- Clean the grill after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.
- If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
- Talk to your neighbors and kids about being Bear Aware.
Cars, traveling and campsites:
- Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
- Keep the bottom-floor windows of your house closed when you’re not at home.
- Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
- When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
- Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
- When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
- Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.
Protecting your chickens, bees, livestock:
- Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure, especially at night.
- Construct electric fencing when possible.
- Don’t store livestock feed outside.
- Keep enclosures clean to minimize animal odors.
- Hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure as a scent deterrent.
CPW asks all residents and visitors to help save Colorado’s bears by being actively bear aware throughout the late summer and fall seasons. Bear conflicts and, unfortunately, bear euthanization is most often traced back to human behavior. It is all of our responsibility to help minimize risks to humans and bears alike by being mindful of our impacts.”