How to minimize human-bear conflict as bears leave hibernation

By Lily Sharp

Last week, Governor Jared Polis signed two bills into law in an effort to reduce human-animal conflict in Colorado. The law increases the penalty for knowingly luring a bear by leaving trash and food remnants outside.

Here’s some advice on being bear-aware, from the Boulder Bear Coalition.

Bear sightings have been on the rise in Colorado as black bears leave hibernation and trek closer to populated areas, like Boulder’s University Hill, in search of food.

The Boulder Bear Coalition works to educate residents and tourists on limiting human-bear conflict and protecting these creatures that call Colorado’s Front Range home. The Colorado Bear Coalition, founded by the same group, works with communities statewide.

Brenda Lee is the founder of both the Boulder and Colorado Bear Coalitions. The Boulder Bear Coalition was founded in 2012 after a mother bear was euthanized in her neighborhood, near downtown Boulder.

Lee said, “ Why are they here, and why are people so hesitant to call Colorado Parks and Wildlife when there is a bear sighting? I became a volunteer with CPW and quickly realized that bears are here because they’re hungry. We really needed a community voice to help look at how to change human behavior so that we can reduce the reason that bears come into our urban areas in search of food.”

Residents, hikers, tourists and students must know how to properly store their trash and what to do if they come in contact with a bear.

“ If a bear is in your backyard, on your porch… Get them uncomfortable with being around people. If you must take a photo or a video, do it quickly and then put it down and scare the bear. The worst thing we can do is admire the bear.  If you do see a bear and it’s close, what you want to do is, first of all, make sure it has an exit route,” Lee emphasizes.

Black bears are shy creatures who often run from noises such as voices or banging pots and pans, Lee said.

More information about being bear-aware in Colorado and ways to support these efforts can be found at coloradobearcoalition.org and boulderbearcoalition.org.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.