Human-bear conflict spiking across southwest Colorado

John Livingston
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / [email protected]
@CPW_SW

DURANGO, Colo. – Wildlife officers across southwest Colorado have seen a considerable increase in human-bear conflict in July, a worrisome trend well ahead of hyperphagia.

“We are having to handle a lot of bears right now,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta of Durango. “It’s been hot and heavy here for the last two or three weeks, and it’s not showing signs of slowing down. 

“We know people hear this from us all the time, but we really need the public to do their part right now. Properly securing your trash and removing attractants is the first thing people can do to help.”

Conflicts have risen to the point where officers from the Durango area office have had to set significantly more traps compared to the same date a year ago. CPW will not trap bears in every conflict situation but will instead aims to start with an assessment of potential attractants, education and discussions of ways to prevent conflict longer term. 

“We always want to intervene before it’s necessary to set a trap, but too often we are getting reports weeks after the initial conflict and once problems escalate to the point where human health and safety is at risk,” Archuleta said. “If we can get reports the first time there is an incident, we can proactively work to educate, remove attractants and give advice on securing attractants so that a trap may not need to be set.”

During most years, bear activity ramps up in late summer and fall as bears enter hyperphagia, so the early conflicts already reported have wildlife managers concerned about the forecast for upcoming months.

“It’s weird because things are green, we’ve had decent moisture and natural food is available, so it’s hard to explain why we are having so many issues,” Archuleta said. “But what we know is that it’s critical for people to call our office when they first start having conflicts with bears so we can try to solve issues before they become conflicts.”

Conflict in La Plata and Montezuma counties has primarily been centered around juvenile bears that likely have not carved out their territory in the high country or in drainages. Conflicts in the high country have been relatively few, as there is a good supply of natural forage this year and conditions suggest a strong acorn crop in the fall.

But bears living in marginal habitats can lead to increased human-bear conflict, making it even more important for humans to remove attractants from their homes or keep a clean camp.

“Incidents start with a bear getting into one cooler at a campground, and then a few weeks later, we have a bear getting into a tent or leaning on hard-sided campers,” Archuleta said. “Or you have a bear that gets into trash, pet food left outside or a bird feeder, and then a week later, bears are getting through screen doors and windows or walking into a house through an opened sliding door. The incidents people think are small – like that cooler or pet food – lead to behavior that presents a danger to human health and safety.”

Issues elsewhere in the Southwest Region of CPW are primarily related to hobby livestock.

“We’ve had a lot of food-source issues so far,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Rachel Sralla out of Montrose. “We are really encouraging people to protect hobby livestock, even when it’s close to a home, with electric fencing. Electricity is an excellent bear deterrent. Electric mats or ‘unwelcome mats’ can help keep bears out of unattended cabins and homes.” 

Kevin Bryan, District Wildlife Manager in Cedaredge, said it is up to all of us to do our part to keep bears wild and away from human development. He recommends always cleaning a BBQ grill after use, safely securing trash and taking down bird feeders.

“When you live in bear habitat, there should be an obligation to mitigate conflict. It’s not asking too much to get rid of or bring in bird feeders at night, including hummingbird feeders,” Bryan said. “Multiple people I have spoken with this year appear to not realize that bears are attracted to hummingbird feeders. Of course, trash remains our state's No. 1 cause of human-bear conflict. Making sure you are securing your trash and not putting it out on the curb until the morning of pickup is always the most important thing you can do. 

“As this year is proving, just because you haven’t seen a bear in several years, doesn’t mean that one won’t show up this week and take advantage of a human food source. Make those food sources unavailable and a bear will move on.”

One concern CPW is aware of from the public is a reluctance to report bear activity over a belief it will lead to the bear being put down. Data shows that of the 3,526 reports wildlife managers received on bears in 2023, only 1.8% led to euthanization. The vast majority of conflict reports led to wildlife officers getting involved early enough to intervene, reduce conflict and prevent the need to euthanize a bear.

To report bear activity, please call your local CPW office directly.

Become Bear Aware
Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds people to take simple precautions to avoid human/wildlife conflicts and help keep bears wild. 

Bear-proofing your home:

• Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
• Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
• Keep garage doors closed. Do not leave pet food or stock feed outside.
• Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
• Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
• Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
• Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
• Clean the grill after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.
• If you have fruit trees, don't allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
• Talk to your neighbors and kids about being Bear Aware.

Cars, traveling and campsites:

• Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
• Keep the bottom-floor windows of your house closed when you're not at home.
• Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
• When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
• Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
• When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
• Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

Protecting your chickens, bees, livestock:

• Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure, especially at night. 
• Construct electric fencing when possible.
• Don’t store livestock feed outside.
• Keep enclosures clean to minimize animal odors. 
• As a scent deterrent, hang rags soaked in ammonia or Pine-Sol around the enclosure.

For more information on living with bears, go to cpw.state.co.us.