DENVER—State wildlife officers have killed a bear they believe forced its way into an Aspen home and attacked a woman.
Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton says the bear killed Wednesday returned to the home where the attack took place two days earlier. The large male black bear matched the description of the one that clawed the woman on her back and chest.
She didn’t have to be hospitalized.
Wildlife officials say bears that are aggressive with people are too dangerous to relocate. The Aspen area has had trouble with bears getting into garbage and breaking into homes this summer. Part of the problem is that berries and other natural fare have ripened late because of the cool, moist weather.
An ongoing issue is trying to get people to use bear-proof trash containers, not leave food out, and keep windows and doors closed. Aspen and other communities have passed ordinances imposing fines if people don’t use the right garbage cans.
Hampton said some bears get used to eating food dumped in the trash. People are urged not to put out pet food or food for birds, or leave barbecue grills outdoors.
“We placed our personnel at the scene of the earlier attack knowing that bears are highly likely to return to the places where they have previously found food,” said Perry Will, area wildlife manager. “Because the bear had eaten some food after breaking into the home Monday, the hunch paid off and the bear returned to the home at almost the same time of night as the original incident.”
State wildlife officers relocate bears that are a nuisance but aren’t considered a danger. Such bears are tagged and might be euthanized if they get into trouble again.
This summer, four bears have been killed in the Aspen area. Thirteen bears were euthanized in 2007, when a late freeze coupled with drought wiped out huge swaths of the bears’ natural fare, including berries and acorns.
