Bears

Bears have long been a source of controversy In Evergreen as they upend trash cans and hunt down bird feeders. Ways to address bear issues include asking trash haulers to provide bear-resistant containers, talking to Jefferson County commissioners about trash ordinances, and educating residents through social media, knocking on doors, and presenting information to Homeowners Associations (HOAs).

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Bears in the news:

September 13, 2023 Colorado Parks and Wildlife humanely euthanized a sick male black bear Saturday night in Telluride. The boar, which weighed an estimated 400 pounds, showed signs of infection and was suffering from a severe intestinal blockage caused by consumed human trash. “The bear could not digest food and was very sick,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Rachel Sralla. “It all comes back to trash, which we talk about too often when it comes to bear conflicts in Colorado. The reason we had to put this bear down was to end its suffering that was caused by eating indigestible trash.”

The 2021 tragedy of the death of a Durango woman which involved two bears, and an attack on a man sleeping in a tent at a Conifer campground, are both reminders that we must take bears seriously.

Some in Evergreen seem to consider bears as nothing more than very large dogs that inconveniently spill trash or damage the deck getting to a bird feeder. When a car is destroyed or a shed is tossed off its foundation, we get a little more concerned.

When a bear is allowed to wander from neighborhood to neighborhood with impunity, she begins to lose fear of being around us. Each step closer to our homes equals a step closer to her demise.

Wild Aware works with the community to help keep the bears from getting too cozy with us. After all, they are wild animals and require responsible behavior from their human neighbors. Unpredictable, very hungry, and quite large, bears need to live their wild lives and we may have to take definitive steps for them to see us as a threat. It’s not an easy task for us, but if we really care about these creatures, we must take steps to haze them away from our yards and homes. There is much at stake.

What you can do:

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  • Contact Wild Aware info@wildaware.org to help us in our mission to share education with our communities and suggest ways to keep bears wild.

  • Join Wild Aware’s Bear Book Group for quarterly gatherings of volunteers and anyone who is a fan of bears. Reach out to us at info@wildaware.org for more information.

  • Visit our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and NextDoor to share your experiences, read about bear happenings, and get valuable information about resources and contact numbers.

  • Reach out to neighbors and friends with important information about keeping bird feeders and trash cans out of reach of bears.

  • Secure your own food sources including pet food, backyard livestock like chickens or beehives, trash, bird feeders, and grills

  • Remember: Bears are also attracted to things like diapers and flowery aromas (soap, deodorant). Recycling bins also bring in bears.


Get educated about living with bears through visiting Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s website or Colorado Bear Coalition.