Bears are continuing to visit Boulder in November as they build up reserves for winter, bringing concerns about safety for both people and wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has counted at least 15 bears, including cubs, entering the city, according to a news release Boulder issued Monday.
Although bear sightings can offer opportunities for photographs, city officials say the urban environment presents serious hazards. Val Matheson, Boulder’s urban wildlife conservation coordinator, said people could be injured during encounters, while bears face dangers from vehicles, swimming pools and substances that are toxic to them. Bears have higher mortality in urban settings than in natural areas, she said.
Seeing bears in Boulder this far into November was unusual roughly a decade ago, according to Matheson. A recent Virginia Tech study found that climate change and unusually warm temperatures have shortened their seasonal sleeping period, with bears entering torpor later and waking earlier. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also says low snowpack, drought and wildfires have reduced natural food supplies in Colorado, potentially driving bears into developed areas to find more to eat.
Garbage creates particular problems. A bear searching a bin for discarded meat can swallow plastic, cigarette butts or other harmful waste along with the food. Trash also offers calorie-rich foods outside a bear’s natural diet. Matheson warned that access to those foods can establish an unsustainable pattern, encouraging bears and their cubs to return for human food the following season. “The primary conflict is bears using trash as a food source,” she said.
Officials are asking residents to use bear-resistant garbage and compost containers and keep them from overflowing. Any trash left outside the night before collection should be secured in a bear-resistant bin. Picking ripe fruit and clearing fallen fruit from the ground can also help, as can removing bird feeders and cleaning up spilled seed. Pet food and feeding dishes should be brought indoors, and grills should be cleaned and stored inside after use.
The city also advises keeping vehicles locked and removing food wrappers, coffee cups and anything else carrying an odor. Livestock, including goats and chickens, should be kept within an enclosure or a permitted electric fence. People using hiking trails should pay attention to dog leash restrictions.
Residents are most likely to encounter black bears, a species name that does not necessarily describe their coat color. Anyone who sees a bear should calmly retreat to a safe distance, Matheson said. Sightings can be reported online to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
