The Boulder Bear Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing human-bear conflicts within our community. Our mission is to keep local black bears wild and free while ensuring the safety of the Boulder community.

We focus on educating and empowering residents to prevent bears from entering town by proactively reducing attractants and enhancing deterrents. By addressing the root of the problem, we aim to minimize the need for wildlife managers to respond to crises.

A community is built on shared values. Wildlife is something that most residents in Boulder value, thus the Boulder Bear Coalition was born from a need to create a cohesive understanding of what we can do, in clear steps, to protect bears and how we can effectively apply this information.

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Free bear-resistant trash enclosures on University Hill — 3 properties left

Hill neighbors — if you’ve had bears in your trash this summer (or your alley has been a regular stop on the bear buffet), there’s real help available right now.

Through a Colorado Parks & Wildlife grant, the Boulder Bear Coalition is installing bear-resistant trash enclosures for University Hill properties at little to no cost — up to $4,000 per enclosure. Funding is available for three more properties in this phase.

A few things that make this easy:

🐻 The enclosures are attractive and durable — not an eyesore
🐻 Western Disposal opens them on regular pickup days, so trash service doesn’t change at all
🐻 Property owners who’ve already participated are seeing noticeably less bear activity

If you own property on the Hill: reach out to the Boulder Bear Coalition to find out if you qualify.

If you rent: send this post to your landlord or property manager! A free enclosure protects their property, and it makes your alley a lot less interesting to bears. Renters passing this along has been how several owners found out about the program.

Why it matters: every trash can a bear can’t open is one less food reward keeping bears in our neighborhood — and one less bear that ends up handled by wildlife officers. Secured trash genuinely saves bears’ lives.

Funding is first come, first served — if you’re interested, please fill out this short questionnaire.

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How to Protect Local Black Bears

#1 Secure Your Trash

Bears are in town because they are hungry! The number one reason that bears come into urban areas is unsecured trash. Please secure your trash by using a bear resistant trash cart or enclosure. 

#2 Report Trash Violations

All businesses and residents west of Broadway are required to use bear resistant trash carts to prevent bears from getting into trash (see Bear Protection Ordinance Zone). If you see trash strewn or cans not latched, use Inquire App to report the violation -it could save a bear’s life!

#3 Take Down Birdfeeders

Take bird feeders down between April and November. Even bird seed that falls on the ground is an attractant to bears. Bears will eat during the day, and love hummingbird feeders.

We suggest planting flowers to attract birds.

#4 Harvest Your Fruit Trees

For help harvesting fruit, contact Community Fruit Rescue

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Sierra Magazine article about BBC’s role in human-bear conflict 

 

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Boulder Bear Coalition, a video summary:

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Boulder Bear Coalition is a proud member of the
Colorado Bear Coalition
a statewide nonprofit protecting black bears across Colorado

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Boulder Bear Coalition is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
EIN #: 46-3941088