Spring showers, flowers and bears — oh my.
Last Thursday marked the first full day of spring and, incidentally, the first bear sighting in Colorado’s high country.
After a woman in Pitkin County reported a black bear on her porch, authorities emphasized the importance of wildlife safety in the upcoming season — for the bears, too.
That’s because last year, the Aspen area was besieged by bears as the bruins dug through trash cans and invaded homes looking for food. A spring freeze followed by dry weather wiped out much of the bears’ natural fare: berries and acorns.
“It’s important to mention that we haven’t had any attacks by bears that were not unprovoked attacks,” said Bobby Schafer, a community safety officer with the Aspen Police Department. “Bears typically are just bears, and they don’t actively seek out people.”
According to Schafer, there were two incidences last year in Pitkin County in which a black bear attacked a person. That’s a surprising number since the Colorado Division of Wildlife killed a record 59 bears statewide that threatened people or had to be moved more than once.
One involved a bear entering a home. The animal was confronted by the home’s resident in the kitchen, where it charged the human because it felt cornered. It then ran through the residence until it escaped.
“We have to remember it’s fight or flight with wild animals,” Shafer said. “Black bears in nature don’t seek out harm, and you have to remember animals need their space and respect.”
Jerry Katopodes, a park ranger with the City of Boulder Open Space, said that although it is a little early for bears to be emerging from their winter dens, it’s not unusual.
“With weather warming up, it’s normal for bears to come out in search for something green, especially flowers, which is their meal of choice right now,” Katopodes said.
Bears actually do not hibernate, but rather go into a period of deep sleep. Katopodes said this means bears can awake at any time during the winter. Warmer weather, the smell of fresh road kill, or the curiosity of young cubs could be reasons bears venture out before people anticipate them.
With this in mind, Katopodes said, people must be vigilant of their surroundings, especially in Boulder, where a bear famously took up temporary residence in a neighborhood tree last September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Living in bear country:
1. Remain vigilant of your surroundings.
2. Never run from a bear. This will only provoke it to chase you.
3. Never turn your back on a bear.
4. Walk slowly away from the bear.
5. Avoid direct eye contact with a bear.
6. Fight back if approached by throwing rocks, sticks, or hitting with your hands. Also, make sure the bear has a clear escape path.
7. Keep garbage indoors until trash pick-up.
8. Never store food outside, including pet food, or bird seed in a feeder.
9. Avoid keeping food in your car.
10. Harvest fruit-bearing trees and bushes in your yard regularly. Fruit attracts bears.
11. Educate your children and neighbors to follow these steps.
Tips courtesy of the City of Boulder
