A cautionary tale on how to be bear (and human) aware in the Roaring Fork Valley

Last weekend, four longtime friends and hikers undertook a hike on the Aspen side of West Maroon Pass.

The group, consisting of four women, were hiking from Crested Butte, a couple of miles above Crater Lake, and heading toward the Maroon Bells when they came upon two men about 20 feet away.

One of the men yelled, “Bear!” followed by, “There it goes.”

At this point, the black bear had retreated back into the woods. But one of the men went on to remove something from his backpack and spray it into the air. The spray came directly toward the women and covered their skin, faces, and clothes.

“And I said, ‘What did you spray?’ And then it immediately hit us,” one of the women, Karen White, said. “It came up wind, and it wasn’t even a windy day, so that was kind of crazy. I think it was just the valley, the way the air travels, but it hit. I was in front. It hit all of us almost immediately. And so we turned and ran to get away from it. I mean, it caused severe coughing, burning, itching, stinging. It was really powerful.”

She again asked the man what he had sprayed. He said it was bear spray.

“And I said, ‘I thought the bear ran off,’ and he said, ‘I was just testing it, so I know how to protect myself,'” White said.

The women’s eyes, lungs, noses, and throats immediately continued to burn. They ran to the nearby creek and washed themselves off and filtered water to drink in an effort to find some sort of relief.

As they were at the creek, the women noticed a couple with a baby in a back carrier coming up the trail. They warned the parents and baby not to go any further until the spray dissipated, as they were worried what would happen if the baby ingested the bear spray.

“And I mean the way it affected us, I can’t imagine how it would affect a nine month old or eight month old. So, it was just concerning and upsetting and kind of silly that he did just decide to spray it, even though the bear had run off,” White said.

The women had no idea of what to do in the event of being sprayed with bear spray. They had no signal on their phones to look up what to do or to call someone. Longtime Colorado residents and hikers, nothing like this had ever happened to them before.

Katie Hueth, another one of the women, said that she couldn’t breathe. It felt like drowning.

“And I was in the back, and I got it the least. I can’t imagine what the other girls felt, but, yeah, it’s just a very scary sensation,” she said.

Eventually, the two men came back to apologize to the women, but the women said the apologies fell on deaf ears.

In a letter to the editor of The Aspen Times, one of the women, Kristy Vetter, wrote that, “The man who ignited the bear spray tried to explain that he just “wanted to see if it worked” regardless of the bear running away. Well, sir, you found your answer. Luckily, your very serious mistake had only minor consequences.

“Please understand that bears in our area are typically not aggressive. A simple bear bell would suffice if truly afraid of hiking in Aspen. And if you aren’t comfortable with that, don’t go. Bear spray is not your safety net,” she said. “The Colorado Parks & Wildlife website states: ‘Black bears are highly intelligent and respond uniquely to people and situations. Wild black bears seldom attack unless they feel threatened, cornered, or are provoked.'”

The effects of the bear spray continued into the next day, with lingering coughs and irritation when talking.

The group’s hope is to educate Aspenites and tourists alike on the proper bear spray etiquette.

“If you’re going to carry bear spray and use it, you should know how to use it. You should know how far it goes. You should know that it can carry in the wind,” another one of the women, Mary Fletcher, said. “I mean, bears are, generally speaking — especially black bears, which is what is in our area — scared of people. And really, all you need to do is make some noise to get them to move away. You don’t need to use something like bear spray. 

“And especially being on that trail, knowing that there are so many people in such close proximity. And it’s a weapon, and it’s super powerful. But bear spray is much more concentrated than pepper spray, and I think a lot of people just think it’s normal pepper spray, and it’s not. And I just think as other citizens out on the trail, you not only have a duty to yourself, but to everyone else that’s out there.”

Colorado bear sighting and conflict stats

In 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,526 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears, according to a news release from the organization. The news release went on to state that this is a 21% decrease from the average number of reports received in 2019-2023. Trash continues to be the main source of conflicts between humans and bears.

“Of the 3,526 reports CPW received in 2023, 1,795 resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle, fence, etc. Around 92% of property damage reported from bears is linked to an attractant of some kind, with over 51% linked to trash, 20% to livestock, chickens and beehives, and 19% to bird seed, pet food, barbeque grills, coolers and refrigerators.”

Pitkin County had the highest number of bear reports among Colorado’s 64 counties.

There were 429 bear reports recorded in Pitkin County in 2023. There were 250 sightings, and hundreds of reports for property damage, including 105 reports for trash, one report for beehives, one report for livestock, one report for crops, and 28 reports for vehicles. Zero bears were relocated, and seven were euthanized.

The next highest number of bear reports recorded was 272 in El Paso and La Plata counties. Boulder County had 270 reports; Jefferson and Routt counties had 200. 

For the counties closest to Pitkin County, Eagle County had 163 bear reports, and Garfield County had 181.

Tips for staying safe around bears

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, black bears are not naturally aggressive, but they are powerful animals. 

Other ways to scare off a black bear include yelling, tossing small stones in the direction of the bear, banging pots and pans, or blowing a car horn, air horn, or whistle. Always make sure the bear has an escape route.

Parks and Wildlife went on to state that, “Bear spray is a super-concentrated, highly irritating pepper spray proven to be more effective than firearms at deterring bears.” However, “bear spray is no substitute for taking all the proper precautions to prevent problems in bear country.”

If you wish to carry bear spray, though, here are some tips from BearWise, a program of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies:

1. “Choose genuine bear spray — Look for the EPA registration number on the label. It guarantees you’re choosing a product specifically formulated to deter bears. Personal defense products are not formulated for use on bears. Bear spray is widely available at local stores, online retailers and from manufacturers.
2. Keep bear spray accessible — Carry your bear spray where you can get your hands on it in seconds. There are many types of carriers available, including waist and chest holsters and harnesses. Some people carry their bear spray in a secure cargo pocket or water bottle pouch. Never bury bear spray in your pack or carry it with the safety clip removed. When you’re in camp, keep a canister within reach in your tent and cooking area.
3. Carry your own spray — No matter how big your group is, everyone should carry their own bear spray and know how to use it. If someone needs to use their bear spray, there will still be enough remaining for the rest of the trip.
4. Read the directions — Bear spray is available in several sizes, which affects how long the can will last and how far the spray disperses. The label will list the maximum distance your spray should travel (generally 20 to 40 feet), the area it should cover, and how many seconds it will spray. Read the instructions on how to use your spray. Check the expiration date.
5. Store safely — Store bear spray in a cool, dry place out of reach of kids and pets. Don’t store bear spray in the fridge or freezer. Never leave bear spray in your vehicle or glove box; temperatures over 120F may cause the canister to explode.
6. Traveling with bear spray — Bear spray is not allowed on airplanes, but you can ship it to yourself at your destination or use the ship-to-a-store option offered by many retailers. Some popular tourist areas offer bear spray rentals for the duration of your stay. Check with your destination before you leave.
7. Avoid accidental discharge — Keep the safety clip securely in place until you need to use your bear spray. Never play around with bear spray. Spray shoots out at more than 70 mph; at very close range that much pressure can do permanent eye damage. Read more in our FAQs below. A good option for preventing an accidental discharge is to store the canister in a protective container (available from bear spray manufacturers).
8. First aid instructions are on the label. Bear spray is oil-based, so wash off residue with soap and water. Don’t rub your eyes or nose. Rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation lessons. Effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes.”

Regan Mertz can be reached at 970-429-9153 or rmertz@aspentimes.com.