C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E

Colorado is Bear Country Black Bears at a Glance We’re Here to Help

Living With
Bears
Black bears have lived in the foothills and forests Bears are intelligent, resourceful and amazing animals. On the Web
of Colorado since long before the pioneers arrived. Visit www.wildlife.state.co.us/bears for more informa-
Today 8,000 to 12,000 black bears are trying to share n Black is a species, not a color. In Colorado many tion. You’ll find fact sheets, a homeowner’s checklist, in-
space with an ever-growing human population. With black bears are blonde, cinnamon or brown. formation on safe camping and hiking and much more.
many more people living and playing in bear country,
n Over 90 percent of a bear’s natural diet is grasses,
human-bear encounters are on the rise. Through Bear Aware
berries, fruits, nuts and plants. The rest is primarily Bear Aware volunteers can answer questions, offer
insects and scavenged carcasses.
Colorado Bears Have People Problems practical advice and even make house calls. They
Every year, bears attracted to human food sources n Black bears are naturally shy, and very wary of also do educational programs and staff informational
damage property, vehicles and even homes. Bears people and other unfamiliar things. Their normal booths at events. To find a Bear Aware volunteer in
don’t know they’re doing anything wrong. They’re response to any perceived danger is to run away. your area or join or form a Bear Aware team, call
just following their super-sensitive noses to the most your local office.
n In Colorado most bears are active from mid-
calories they can find. March through early November. When food sources
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Offices
dwindle they head for winter dens.
Bears that find food around homes, campgrounds Division offices are open Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and communities often lose their natural wariness n With a nose that’s 100 times more sensitive than For after-hours emergencies, contact the Colorado
of people. Even though black bears are not naturally ours, a bear can literally smell food five miles away. State Patrol or your local Sheriff ’s Department.
aggressive and seldom attack or injure people, they n Bears are very smart, and have great memories –
are still strong, powerful animals. A bear intent on once they find food, they come back for more. CPW Headquarters - Administrative Offices
getting a meal could injure someone who gets in its 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 . (303) 297-1192
way. Every year bears that have become too comfort- n During late summer and early fall bears need
able around people have to be destroyed. 20,000 calories a day to gain enough weight to survive Brush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(970) 842-6300
the winter without eating or drinking. Colorado Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (719) 227-5200
Bears Need Your Help n Bears are not naturally nocturnal, but sometimes Denver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (303) 291-7227
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is charged with travel at night in hopes of avoiding humans. Durango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 247-0855
protecting and preserving the state’s wildlife. Every Ft. Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 472-4300
time we must destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that Glenwood Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(970) 947-2920
loses. We all lose a little piece of the wildness that Grand Junction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 255-6100
makes Colorado so special. Gunnison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 641-7060

Please Do Hot Sulphur Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 725-6200

Lamar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (719) 336-6600

Your Part Meeker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 878-6090

Monte Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (719) 587-6900

to Keep Montrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (970) 252-6000

Pueblo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (719) 561-5300

Bears
Salida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (719) 530-5520
Steamboat Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(970) 870-2197

Wild

© JOHN DERYCH
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
3/2012 — 100,000 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216
© JOHN DERYCH (303) 297-1192 • www.wildlife.state.co.us/bears
Only People Can Prevent Garbage Kills Bears Bird Feeders Kill Bears Help Keep Bears Wild
Problems With Bears Much of what people throw away smells like food to a Get in the habit of being bear-responsible. It’s like
hungry bear. Standard metal or plastic trash cans won’t recycling — at first it’s a little extra effort, but soon it
Black bears are curious, smart and very adaptable. keep out bears. Once bears learn where it’s easy to get becomes a better way to live. And you can be proud
They’re not fussy and will eat just about anything at the garbage, they’ll come back again and again. you’re helping to make Colorado a better place for
with calories. Bears want to get the most energy they people and bears.
can with the least amount of effort. Every bear’s goal Never leave trash or recyclables out overnight. Empty
is to get fat enough to live through the winter. cans and boxes still smell like food. One study showed n Don’t feed bears, and don’t put out food for other
that simply putting trash out the morning of pick up cuts wildlife that attracts bears.
Most conflicts between people and bears can be the chances of a bear visit from 70 percent to 2 percent.
traced to easy-to-get-at human food, garbage, pet n Be responsible about trash and bird feeders.
food, bird seed or other attractants. When people n Burn food off barbeque grills and clean after each use.

© BILL LEVY
allow bears to find food, a bear’s natural drive to eat
can overcome its wariness of humans. n Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed
and locked, including home, garage and vehicle doors.
Studies show that a big meal of tasty, nutritious seeds n Don’t leave food, trash, coolers, air fresheners or
Bear Calorie Counter — a natural food for bears — is often the first reward anything that smells in your vehicle.
Bird seed (7 lbs.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 180 a bear gets for exploring human places. Letting your
Dog Food (25 lbs.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,425 n Pick fruit before it ripens, and clean up fallen fruit.
bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches bears that
Peanut Butter (28 oz.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,750 it’s safe to come close to people and homes looking n Talk to your neighbors about doing their part to be
Shortening (3 lbs.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,430 for food. And for bears that can be a deadly lesson. bear-responsible.
Berries (1 lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000
We recommend not feeding
birds during the months
when bears are active.

Instead, use water features, plant-

ings, nest boxes and flowers to
attract birds. Use bird feeders only
If you must leave trash outside, buy a bear-proof when bears are hibernating.
container, build a bear-proof enclosure or install an
electric fence. To avoid attracting bears, clean con- If you don’t want to stop feeding birds,
tainers regularly with ammonia or bleach. you need to hang your feeders at least
ten feet off the ground and ten feet
Bears that learn away from anything bears can climb.
garbage = food
sometimes come Keep the area underneath feeders clean
inside homes and free of bird seed and hulls, or switch to
looking for more. a hulled bird seed with no waste.
Don’t make it If You See a Bear
Bears that get too comfortable around people can easy for bears to Never store bird seed outside, under your deck, or If a bear comes near your home,
destroy property or even become a threat to human visit; keep bear- in a garage or shed a bear could break into. do your best to chase it away.
safety. Habituated bears must often be destroyed. accessible win- A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over Yell, blow a whistle, clap your
Please don’t let bears die needlessly. Do your part to dows and doors 87,000 calories — a reward for the bear well hands and make other loud

© JOHN DERYCH
bear-proof your home and property, and help keep in your home and worth the effort of breaking in. noises. But never approach or
bears alive and wild. garage locked. corner a bear.