Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds residents that bears are emerging from hibernation and beginning to search for food.

In the spring, bears should find natural food sources as new plants and grasses begin to sprout. Bears are omnivores and primarily eat vegetation. If natural food becomes scarce, or if human-provided food is easy to access, bears will begin looking in residential areas for their next meal.

Tips to prevent human-bear conflicts include:

Keep garbage in a well-secured enclosure. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup. Bring empty cans inside before dark.Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster. Clean all garbage cans regularly to keep them odor free. The scent of ammonia can deter bears.Take down all bird feeders by April 15. Hang feeders again in mid-November.Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.Keep garage doors and windows closed and locked, especially between dusk and dawn.Don’t leave food or scented items in your car. Always lock vehicle doors.Use bear boxes or bear-proof containers when camping.Don’t leave food outside while camping. If bear boxes aren’t available, lock all food in a vehicle.Review CPW’s Bearproofing Your Home Fact Sheet and conduct a home audit to be sure you are not attracting bears to your property.

For more information, visit www.cpw.state.co.us/bears.