Bear encounters on the rise in Aspen
Lack of wild foods leading to increase, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife
DJ Hannigan/Courtesy photo
Encounters between bears and humans have surged this year, as bears increasingly overcome the trash management systems designed to keep them at bay
“A bear has figured out how to enter a trash compactor for the first time this year, too,” Aspen Parks and Open Space Wildlife Coordinator Lara Xaiz said.
But bears are not just targeting dumpsters. Some have even mastered the trick of undoing the latch that secures the steel bar on compactors, Xaiz said. Waste haulers are now adding extra security measures to these bars in response to the bears’ growing determination.
The bears’ cleverness has prompted waste haulers to secure these dumpsters more robustly, yet challenges persist, according to Xaiz.
“With regular metal dumpsters, the bears are pulling them over and leveraging their weight against the steel bar until it bends and comes free,” Xaiz said.
These repeated successes have made bears more persistent in seeking out human food.
“It can take 2-3 weeks with failed attempts before they stop trying,” Xaiz said.
This determination is reflected in the numbers. Over the past month in Aspen, there have been 15 bear intrusions into unlatched trash cans or dumpsters, one into unlatched compost, three container failures on poly/plastic carts, 19 incidents involving recycling, and 24 metal dumpster failures, including the trash compactor.
The greater Aspen area is also seeing an impact. Rachael Gonzales, public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, reported that from June 1 to Sept. 5, Pitkin County received 463 bear reports, with 173 involving food and non-food source property damage.
This marks a significant increase from the previous year when there were 263 reports and 113 cases of property damage.
Gonzales attributed the rise in bear sightings to a poor year for wild foraging for bears.
“A lot of those natural foods that keep them from trekking down into neighborhoods have not been there for them,” she said.
In contrast, last year’s abundance of food led to many sows getting pregnant and giving birth to cubs, resulting in more mouths to feed during a summer with higher-than-normal temperatures.
As bears prepare for winter, they become increasingly desperate for food.
“We are now starting to see the bears wanting to get fat and happy for the winter,” Gonzales said. “This means they may be looking for any fruit trees in a resident’s yard.”
It’s crucial to understand that black bears do not go into true hibernation, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Black bears enter a state of torpor or winter lethargy, during which they can wake up anytime.
This behavior drives them to seek out food sources year-round, even in December.
“Even if it’s December and you have a bear that knows, ‘Hey, I can get into this trash,’ they will take that opportunity,” Gonzales said.
Bears have an incredibly keen sense of smell, 2,100 times more than humans and seven times more than bloodhounds, according to the National Institution of Environmental Health Sciences. Bears can detect food from up to five miles away.
Xaiz stressed the importance of properly sorting trash to prevent attracting bears, as many recycling bins contain non-recyclable items that appeal to the animals. Gonzales added that bears need 22,000 calories a day during this time of year, making them relentless in their search for food.
A common misconception is that reporting a bear encounter will lead to the bear being euthanized or relocated. Gonzales and Xaiz, however, assured that this is not the case. The primary focus is on removing the opportunity for bears to access human food.
“Making sure that people have bear-resistant trash cans, and are using them properly (is key),” Gonzales said.
She also recommended not putting out trash until the morning of pick-up and being mindful of what goes into recycling bins.
Bear-resistant trash cans are only effective for 60 to 90 minutes. After that, the bears can usually manage to break in. If a person does not have a safe place to store their trash for most of the week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with the city of Aspen, recommend building a concrete enclosure with heavy steel doors to keep the bears at bay.
To further reduce the risk of bear encounters, Gonzales suggested locking car doors and windows and ensuring that accessible home windows and doors are secure. She also pointed out that bears can climb trees, so any structures like pergolas near trees should be carefully monitored.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, it is up to humans to prevent easy access to easy food sources. Aspen is bear country so it’s important that all of its residents follow advice from officials to ensure the safety of not only people, but also the bears.
If a bear continues to frequent an area, residents are encouraged to contact wildlife officials for guidance. The Aspen Police Department is also a valuable resource, advising residents to call 970-920-BEAR if a bear is spotted or to contact the police directly if the situation is urgent.
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