The summer months are known for thunderstorms, fishing, hiking and picnics but here in Colorado they are also known for bears. Bear sightings are not uncommon in the Tri-Lakes area, especially this summer.
“I don’t recall the previous two summers having as many [sightings],” said Chief Keith Moreland of the Palmer Lake Police Department.
Deputy Chief Chad Forquer of Woodmoor Public Safety agreed.
“We’ve had quite a few more,” he said, adding since May they have had seven calls related to bears.
Forquer said they are mostly foraging through trash looking for food.
Moreland said he had to shoot bean bags at a bear last week because it had broken into a homeowner’s sunroom and got into a 50-pound bag of bird seed.
Michael Seraphin, public information officer for the Colorado Division of Wildlife said there are many precautions people need to take when seeing a bear. He said each situation is unique and that you need to know what to do if you’re a homeowner, camper or a hiker.
He said bears are naturally afraid of humans but they are still wild animals.
“Each and every bear has a different personality,” Seraphin said. “People don’t know or understand them.”
Seraphin said that black bears are the type of bear most found in Colorado. He said they can be brown, blonde or cinnamon color.
Black bears are omnivores and according to the Colorado DOW website, bears mostly eat vegetation and insects but will eat the carcass of another dead animal.
Seraphin said people should never feed bears. He said black bears are very intelligent animals and if they have found access to your trash or have found a way to the pet food they remember and will come back.
He advises homeowners to keep lower level windows and doors locked because bears can get in. They can smell food from up to five miles away.
Seraphin said people need to take precautions if they are out hiking and run into a bear as well.
“Stop, talk to the bear, back away and keep kids close and dogs on a leash,” he said, adding that if you talk to the bear you are letting it know you are a human and not another bear or animal.
He said if the bear should charge stand still. If you run the bear will think you are another animal.
More information on bear precautions can be found at http://wildlife.state.co.us. First, click on “education” and then click on “Living with Bears.”
Moreland said they have not had any bears come in contact with people thus far this summer. Forquer added the Woodmoor Public Safety Department passes out brochures to their homeowners from the division of wildlife and post reminders in their newsletters.
“Our biggest approach is education,” Forquer said. “We work closely with the division of wildlife.”
He said more information can be found by clicking on “neighborhood” once at www.woodmoor.org.
Seraphin said all residents should call 719-227-5200 to report a bear on their property.