Human-Bear Conflict

Why are bears in town?

During hyperphagia, a time of increased eating to prepare for hibernation, bears are attracted into town by the lure of unsecured trash, unharvested fruit trees, beehives, chicken coops, and bird feeders. Some of these bears will become habituated to people and food conditioned to these easily available calories, thus becoming “nuisance” bears. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers, whose priority is to keep people safe from wild animals, are charged with managing the bears in town.  The “nuisance” bears are tranquilized, tagged (Boulder bears are given a green ear tag in each ear) and relocated outside the city. Options on where to release a bear is limited and although bears are often relocated 50 + miles of their original point of capture, relocated bears typically return to their place of capture or are hit by cars trying to return.

Bears need to find their own territory and being released into another bear’s already established territory can be dangerous for the relocated bear, especially a sow with cubs. According to CPW’s 2-Strike Policy, if a bear has to be handled twice by a CPW officer, the second time it is killed.  For more information, see a description here.

What is a “nuisance” bear?

A “nuisance” bear meets one or more of the items below:

  • a bear that is continually reported in town eating unsecured trash
  • a bear that is continually reported in town eating natural food (fruit from trees)
  • a bear does a bluff charge, including a sow with young cubs (in other places such as Yosemite this is considered normal behavior and would not justify labeling her as aggressive or a problem)

What is an “aggressive” bear?

An aggressive bear meets one or more of the items below:

  • has charged several people
  • eaten livestock
  • entered a home

A bear considered by CPW as “aggressive” will be killed, and will not be tagged and relocated.

What Is Proactive Bear Management?

We have identified three main proactive strategies that need to be addressed to keep bears safe:

  •  Reduce Attractants
    • Increase use of bear resistant trash and compost bins throughout town; expand to areas beyond Bear Protection Ordinance Zone
    • Enforcement of trash laws by Boulder City Police
    • Increase harvesting of fruit throughout town, see Community Fruit Rescue,
    • Take in bird feeders and other attractants
    • Map out natural corridors that bears are using to come into town and finding ways to reduce the ease of bears moving from open space to densely populated neighborhood (i.e. Goose Creek area where Bear 317 was regularly seen and later killed).
    • Create BearSafe Neighborhoods to increase community outreach and accountability for reducing attractants
  •  Increase Deterrents 
    • Increase use of electric fencing around beehives and chicken coops
    • Increase use of electric unwelcome mats near entrances to food storage areas
    • Improve hazing techniques for bears that are in town
    • Increase community outreach and accountability for increasing deterrents
  •  Increase native food source in wilderness open space

     

    What To Do If You Encounter a Bear

    Black bears are highly intelligent and respond uniquely to people and situations. Wild black bears seldom attack unless they feel threatened, cornered, or are provoked. Per Colorado Parks & Wildlife:

    If You Surprise a Bear on a Trail

    • Stand still, stay calm and let the bear identify you and leave.
    • Talk in a normal tone of voice. Be sure the bear has an escape route
    • Never run or climb a tree.
    • If you see cubs, their mother is usually close by. Leave the area immediately.


    If the Bear Doesn’t Leave     

    • A bear standing up is just trying to identify what you are by getting a better look and smell. 
    • Wave your arms slowly overhead and talk calmly. If the bear huffs, pops it jaws or stomps a paw, it wants you to give it space. 
    • Step off the trail to the downhill side, keep looking at the bear and slowly back away until the bear is out of sight.

If the Bear Approaches

    • A bear knowingly approaching a person could be a food-conditioned bear looking for a handout or, very rarely, an aggressive bear.
    • Don’t feed this type of bear: instead, stand your ground. Yell or throw small rocks in the direction of the bear.
    • Get out your bear spray and use it when the bear is about 40 feet away. 
    • If you’re attacked, don’t play dead. Fight back with anything available. People have successfully defended them­selves with pen knives, trekking poles, and even bare hands.