After increased bear activity led to the euthanasia of a bear in Boulder and several bears around the state, Boulder city officials are asking residents take precautions to avoid attracting more into neighborhoods.
There have been several bear sightings around the city, said Julie Johnson of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. In one instance a person was feeding a bear peanuts, she said.
Boulder officials worry that bears will come to rely on humans for food. They are asking residents not to leave trash cans or garbage out overnight, as bears are starting to eat more to store up for the winter.
“(Bears) have a fabulous sense of smell,” Johnson said. “They can smell something from four miles away.”
With school at the University of Colorado recommencing on Aug. 27, the majority of garbage issues have been from move-in trash, said Brett Weideman, code enforcement supervisor for the city.
No tickets have been issued because of animals getting into overflowing or improperly stored trash and Weideman said he has not heard reports of animals getting into trash.
But, a resident could be ticketed for not clearing up trash that an animal has gotten into, he said. It’s also illegal to leave trash and recycling out unless it is the same day as collection.
“If it’s a mess and it hasn’t been cleaned up in a reasonable time we will issue a ticket,” Weideman said.
He said the city tries to avoid punitive measures and prefers to focus on education. Weideman did not have an exact estimate of people who had been ticketed for animals getting into their trash, but said it was only a handful of cases.
First-time fines are $100 but can reach $1,000.
City officials recommend storing garbage cans in a shed or garage and to periodically rinse cans out to keep bears from picking up the scent of food.
Staff writer Sara Crocker can be reached at 303-954-1661 or at scrocker@denverpost.com
What to do if you encounter a bear:
Source: City of Boulder
