It’s springtime in the Rockies and as mountain meadows begin to turn green it starts to look like everything is waking up after a long winter’s rest.
That includes the valley’s ursine residents.
Local bears are venturing out of their dens following their winter hibernation and that means it’s time for humans to take a bit of extra care.
“The first week or two out of the den, they are wandering around to get their organs working again,” said Craig Wescoatt, of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Left to their own devices, bears will start their post-hibernation diet by munching on spring grasses. That’s not to say they aren’t really hungry. Bears use up their energy stores during the winter months and nursing mother bears, in particular, need to chow down.
