Durango City Council will soon consider permitting electric bear mats and fencing after calls from residents to allow the wildlife deterrent devices.
Councilor Kip Koso requested an ordinance establishing a permit process for electric mats and fencing be added to a future agenda.
Daniel Murray, with the Community Development Department, said city code requires the Community Development director to approve electric mats or fencing – but in practice, that approval has not been granted.
He recommended City Council adopt a permit process for both temporary and long-term bear deterrents – should the code be changed.
One idea raised was a loan program for temporary bear mats, similar to those offered in Steamboat Springs and La Plata County.
Murray referenced permit programs in La Plata County, Steamboat Springs, Colorado Springs and Missoula, Montana.
“There is a lot of potential for staff to come back, provide a set of regulations, because this is identified to be an effective means at limiting and reducing human and bear conflicts,” he said.
Councilor Dave Woodruff said a simple application process with a quick turnaround is ideal. He suggested pairing permits with educational materials, such as pamphlets from Bear Smart Durango or Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
He said messaging could explain proper bear mat usage and offer websites or contacts to help residents find the best solution for their particular issue.
Koso said quick access to loaned bear mats is key.
“The bears get habituated, I think, pretty quick to a good fruit tree or a chicken coop,” he said. “The ability to get those loaner mats out quickly is something of critical consideration.”
Mayor Gilda Yazzie expressed concern about pets and toddlers being accidentally shocked. She also suggested a requirement that equipment be removed during rain, which Murray said he would investigate.
Murray said electric mats, also called “unwelcome mats,” plug into standard 110- and 120-volt outlets. The mats, including one on display in Smith Council Chambers, deliver small, nonlethal jolts meant to surprise and deter wildlife without causing lasting harm.
A bear mat may deliver 200 milliamps – “significantly lower” than the 15 amps of a conventional toaster, Murray said.
“It’s a brief pulse. It’s intended to be a shock. It’s a burst, as it’s described commonly, and it allows the animal or even a person to step back,” he said. “What it doesn’t do is cause the muscle lock, nor does it generate heat (commonly attributed to) being electrified.”
An animal as small as a mouse can survive a shock unharmed, he said, adding, “The bottom line is they deliver a sharp, short, nonlethal shock.”
A typical bear mat costs about $125. The mats are ideal for temporary deterrence, because bears quickly learn to avoid the area.
Electric fencing can also be deployed temporarily but is the go-to for long-term deterrence. Murray showed examples of electric fencing paired with wildlife barriers to block both small and large animals. The electric fencing stands taller to deter deer and bears.
cburney@durangoherald.com
