COLORADO – Colorado Parks & Wildlife Southeast Region is encouraging Colorado residents to be bear safe in and around their homes, as several recent bear encounters have shown the importance of bear proofing. Just outside of Colorado Springs, resident Carol Rice and several of her neighbors have learned the hard way what happens when bears get habituated to people, as habituated bears have cost Rice two garage doors already.
We @COParksWildlife warn not to let a bear get habituated to people and lose its natural fear of us.
— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) August 7, 2024
Carol Rice and her neighbors just outside #ColoradoSprings are finding out why we worry so.
Habituated bears have cost Rice two garage doors recently.
See her video. Sound up 1/4 pic.twitter.com/F0ycUgjkKI
“Bears are naturally afraid of humans and avoid us and our homes unless they learn view humans are a source of food. Then they become aggressive and potentially dangerous. They will go up to a house, rip open windows and doors to get food. This is not natural bear behavior.“
Bears are naturally afraid of humans and avoid us and our homes unless they learn view humans are a source of food.
— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) August 7, 2024
Then they become aggressive and potentially dangerous.
They will go up to a house, rip open windows and doors to get food. This is not natural bear behavior. 2/4 pic.twitter.com/cdicbzn231
As of February 2024, Colorado Parks and Wildlife estimates that there are around 17,000-20,000 bears in the state. While grizzly bears once lived in Colorado, and it’s certainly possible that one could manage to wander its way here, the state is home only to black bears. In 2023, bear on human conflicts were down 21% from 2019-2023, with 3,526 reports of sightings and conflicts throughout the year.
“We urge everyone to bring in bird feeders each evening, secure garbage, pet food and other attractants away from animals. Clean you barbecue grills after each use. Bears have powerful noses and are extremely strong animals. Check out what this bear does to Carol Rice’s grill.“
We urge everyone to bring in bird feeders each evening, secure garbage, pet food and other attractants away from animals. Clean you barbecue grills after each use. Bears have powerful noses and are extremely strong animals. Check out what this bear does to Carol Rice's grill. 3/4 pic.twitter.com/rPO8lwys1j
— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) August 7, 2024
Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Keeping Bears Wild:
“Get in the habit of being bear responsible. It’s like recycling—at first it’s a little extra effort, but soon it becomes a better way to live. And you can be proud you’re helping to make Colorado a better place for people and bears.
• Don’t feed bears, and don’t put out food for other wildlife.
• Be responsible about trash and bird feeders.
• Burn food off barbecue grills and clean after each use.
• Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked, including home, garage and vehicle doors.
• Don’t leave food, trash, coolers, air fresheners or anything with a scent in your vehicle.
• Pick fruit before it ripens, and clean up fallen fruit.
• Talk to your neighbors about doing their part to be bear responsible.“
A full brochure on living safely among bears can be viewed here.