Each year, the month of April marks the return of two significant events: taxes and bears. The latter is perhaps a bit more welcome and a sign of a season anew.
Area black bears have begun emerging from hibernation, and more bears will be emerging in the following weeks. Males tend to leave dens first, with females with cubs being the last to leave dens. Cubs will have been born in dens around late January, and when exiting dens with their mothers, are about the size of volleyballs.
After a foodless hibernation, it takes bears a while to get their digestive system back on track. They will move to lower elevations in search of “green-up” – young, fresh and nutritious grasses and vegetation. If the food is there, bears will consume 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day at this time. Black bears know their home and seasonal ranges very well and are keenly aware of habitats that hold an abundance of foods. Searching for foods at lower elevations in the spring months often brings bears in close proximity to people and their homes.
Black bears are highly intelligent, have excellent memories and are opportunistic. Unwanted bear activity is learned behavior, and once a bear learns to access human foods, it is very difficult to change its behavior. These bears are far more likely to be killed by vehicles, or by officials and landowners, for unwanted behavior.
In 2016, statewide, 334 bears were killed outside of hunting, down from 483 in 2015; with 245 of those bears killed as “nuisances,” down from 320 in 2015. Many of those deaths were totally avoidable.
Bear managers and researchers have concluded that people providing food to bears is the single most important factor driving human-bear conflict. And that not doing so is the only real solution. Hunting, hazing and removing bears has proved ineffective in reducing conflict.
Now is a good time to take stock of anything on your property that may entice and bring a bear to your home. Residents can store trash in a bear-resistant trash container or other secure structure, feed pets indoors, secure livestock feed and grains and take down bird feeders.
Bears know the caloric boost bird feeders provide; feeders basically train bears to come right up to homes, so it is best to remove them. Bears can show up day or night, so bringing feeders in at night only reduces the likelihood of a bear showing up. By the way, hanging flower baskets work great for attracting hummingbirds.
Vehicle break-ins by bears have been on the rise in recent years, and residents should never leave food, drink, pet food or trash in vehicles. A small bag of trail mix is all it can take, and once started, this process likely ends with property damage and the destruction of a bear.
Electric fencing is highly effective for county residents who want to protect chickens, beehives, livestock and feed, compost, gardens and fruit trees.
To effectively deter bears, electric fencing should be at a minimum three-stranded and deliver 6,000 volts. Fence energizers need be at least .7 joules. Electric fencing is not allowed within city limits.
To securely store livestock feed, 55-gallon steel drums with locking lids, all-metal toolboxes or bear-resistant containers work well.
Both the county and city codes require that residential and commercial trash be made inaccessible to bears and other wildlife (some HOA or subdivision bylaws have similar requirements). Bear-resistant trash receptacles should remain locked other than the morning of trash collection.
City residents may obtain a bear-resistant trash container by calling the city at 375-5004. Businesses within the city that want to upgrade to bear-resistant dumpsters or grease receptacles may contact code enforcement at 375-4930. County residents and businesses need to contact their waste hauler.
Residents are asked to report bear sighting and incidents to either Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 247-0855 or Bear Smart Durango via an online form found at bearsmartdurango.org. Residents are encouraged to report bear and trash violations within city limits by contacting code enforcement, or in the county by calling central dispatch at 385-2900.
Bear Smart Durango offers assistance removing bear attractants, temporarily loans bear-resistant containers and helps to obtain materials and install electric fencing for small-scale backyard operations, including beehives, chickens, compost, small livestock and fruit trees. CPW assists with electric fencing as well.
Please do what you can to make our community safe for both residents and our wildlife neighbors!
Bryan Peterson is executive director of Bear Smart Durango. Reach him at 749-4262 or bp@frontier.net.
