Wildlife, human encounters on the rise in Colorado
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 01:18 p.m., July 21, 2008
Updated 11:53 p.m., July 21, 2008
Michael Seraphin / Colorado Department Of Wildlife
A bear raids a trash bin in south-central Colorado, where officials are having a busy year with bear encounters.
Bears and mountain lions are getting into trees, trash and backyards all over Colorado, lured by the smell of easy prey and free meals.
They're getting smarter, they're getting fatter and they're getting killed more frequently, thanks to the thoughtlessness of the humans living in their midst, Colorado Division of Wildlife officials say.
In the northeastern quadrant of the state, which includes metro Denver, there have been 47 reports of human-bear encounters since April. Many involve hummingbird feeders, trash left outside, steaks left on the barbecue, garage doors left open.
In Aspen and numerous other communities in Colorado, bears actually know which day trash is picked up, going to some neighborhoods on Tuesday, other neighborhoods on Wednesday, breaking into bins, DOW spokesman Randy Hampton said.
"They're not hanging onto calendars, but they know when the easy food is coming, high in fat," Hampton said.
In Durango and Cortez, wildlife officers had to kill three mountain lions the past couple of weeks, an unprecedented number, said Joe Lewandowski, DOW spokesman for southwestern Colorado.
South-central and southeast Colorado are having "a very, very busy" bear year, with encounters in Colorado Springs, Salida, Buena Vista, Canon City, Walsenburg and LaVeta, to name a few, DOW spokesman Michael Seraphin said.
"It has been exceptionally dry," Seraphin said. "We basically had no precipitation from January to the end of June. The bears, which will eat almost anything, didn't have much of the natural forage at their disposal."
"They can smell a barbecue grill from three miles away," said Jenny Churchill, DOW spokeswoman for the metro Denver region.
DOW officers deplore having to shoot mountain lions and bears - and are frustrated by the rash of e-mails and phone calls asking why they had to kill the animals, Hampton said.
"It's because you people have trained these animals, through your improper use of trash, to hang around neighborhoods where they become dangerous, having lost their fear of humans," Hampton said.
scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897
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July 21, 2008
1:31 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
I doubt the animal population is out of control, it sounds more like we have a human population issue. Before a lot of you guys say it, I know we are the top species and GW Bush gave us America and all of that stuff, but there are secondary effects on our enviroment when we change animal populations which can be devastating for us.
July 21, 2008
2:02 p.m.
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El_Mariachi writes:
Avoid cougar encounters...stay away from after dinner bars!
July 21, 2008
2:12 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
Lions and tigers and bears oh my!
Well looks like the wilderness they used to roam in is almost gone.
So if you were them.
Wouldn't you go looking for a free meal at the local garbage can.
So how can you blame a poor hungry cougar or bear for bearing hungry or thirsty.
Come on people it is not all the animals fault.
July 21, 2008
2:14 p.m.
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lcsmithsfc writes:
I have 4 small dogs and have lived in the wilds for 12 years. I have seen one bear in all those years. My neighbors talk of bears and Mt. Lions coming around all the time. I love my animal neighbors, so keep all my trash in my house and then haul it away. I have no bird feeders and do not cook outside so I do not lure them in any way. Why is this so hard for people to practice??? We are in their world---why can't we use our "superior" brains to learn to live among them??
July 21, 2008
2:40 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
ICS
You and I may have superior brains, but we live amoungst idiots.
July 21, 2008
2:46 p.m.
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FCZ writes:
Bring back the Spring bear hunting season.
That would help the bears re-learn important lessons.
July 21, 2008
2:54 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
Mymilehi
SETTLE DOWN AND STOP YELLING!!!!
July 21, 2008
3:02 p.m.
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WarrenJimmyBuffett writes:
People should just stop reporting the encounters to the DOW. I see bears all the time, but I never feel the need to call DOW and whine.
July 21, 2008
3:07 p.m.
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FortCollins22 writes:
To FloydHill - "DOW officers deplore having to shoot mountain lions and bears -- and are frustrated by the rash of e-mails and phone calls asking why they had to kill the poor animals." Just so you know, Deplore - "1 a: to feel or express grief for b: to regret strongly." This was found in the Webster dictionary. Hope that helps you understand that the DOW isn't out there killing animals for fun. If not, I encourage you to go and find out exactly what the DOW feels.
July 21, 2008
3:08 p.m.
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elkman writes:
FloydHill:
Nice talk. To wish misfortune on anyone is pretty low. DOW is what keeps wildlife abundant in our state. Maybe you forgot to take wildlife 101? Duh!
July 21, 2008
3:13 p.m.
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JustSayin writes:
"Happiness would be a plane crash full of D.O.W. sharpshooters, with those folks burning alive!"
Hard to figure if ol' Floyd had a few tickets issued to him by the CDOW in the past and is holding a grudge, or if he's just a rabid, foaming at the mouth government hater, or a bunny-hugger extraodinaire.
Whichever way it is, you need help, dude......
And tell us, brainiac, just when did you see or hear of D.O.W. sharpshooters flying around shooting critters?
July 21, 2008
3:26 p.m.
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ashlandbus writes:
When I got married in Woodland Park this summer, the ranch we were staying at led us to the encounter of a bear (or bears) every early evening and night! Their dumpsters didn't even have tops on them. The bear would ignore our party (of close to 30-50 people) and go to the dumpsters and knock them down. He would repeat during the evenings. It was very frustrating to know that this was a public ranch (with babies visiting) and they did nothing to secure their garbage. It can't be legal! It is only a matter of time before these bears have to be killed due to some human's irresponsibility. Quite sad.
July 21, 2008
3:27 p.m.
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hhatpara writes:
The way to help the "over population problem" of humans, is to not ever hunt the lions and bears, which will allow them to loose their natural respect for humans. As you can see, it has already become a problem, more recently, because of the mentality shared by a few freaks.
July 21, 2008
3:37 p.m.
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temurlan writes:
From that picture it looks like somebody threw away a perfectly good bear.
It's a shame. Some people have to go bearless in Boulder. Send it there.
July 21, 2008
3:43 p.m.
elkman writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
July 21, 2008
3:45 p.m.
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MsValeriah writes:
FloydHill, you really are a nasty person. You're all too quick to wish all manner of ill on anyone you happen to disagree with. You ought to watch out for your karma, with an attitude like that.
That being said, it seems there are way too many lazy, thoughtless, irresponsible people living in the hills. It only takes a little effort to make it easier for the bears and the cougars to avoid getting into trouble. People, if you live close to the wild, police your trash carefully. Make sure it gets locked up in a secure area, feed your pets indoors, don't leave pets outdoors unattended, and DON'T PURPOSELY FEED ANY WILDLIFE!!! You may think it's cute and wonderful and brings you closer to the wild animals, but you aren't doing them any favors. Human beings aren't the only ones who matter in this world. We need to do what we can to live in balance with Mother Nature. While we still have some nature to revere. 'Cause once it's gone, folks, it's gone. And that would be beyond tragic. 'Nuff said.
July 21, 2008
3:53 p.m.
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ggonzo writes:
People 20 years ago we didnt have the bear problem!!! why because the population wasnt out there yet!!! there has always been bears out there, but due to building and building more BUILDING, now where in there back yards!!! So lets just kill them??? More of BIG brothers idiotic ideas!!!! Long Live The Bear!!!!!!!!!
July 21, 2008
3:55 p.m.
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Squatch writes:
I would have to agree with you Elkman floydhill is a very sad person if he can even be called that.
It’s a damn shame that as smart as people are they can be as dumb as they are also. When your laziness & selfishness contributes to wildlife getting put down it is pitiful. Quit blaming the animals for the record number of them that have had to be put down by the DOW your selfish acts are robbing the rest of us.
July 21, 2008
3:58 p.m.
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elkman writes:
FloydHill
I bet you eat plenty of meat, killed by someone else.If so, you are a consumate hypocrite. YIOTA is right on. The DOW and hunters and fishermen have made this and many other states rich in animals. So, take your hateful thoughts and go p_ss up a rope.
July 21, 2008
4:05 p.m.
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jerseycorn writes:
The number one threat to America? Bears!
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/col...
July 21, 2008
4:14 p.m.
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platoro79 writes:
Just ignore FloydHill----His mom told him he had to get a job or move out of her basement. He's having a tough day!
July 21, 2008
4:15 p.m.
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hhatpara writes:
Here's a number for ya floyed...
1-800- A- N -G- E -R- M- A- N- A- G -E -M -E- N- T
July 21, 2008
4:19 p.m.
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O_TRAIN writes:
jerseycorn - good one
My all time favorite Bear is Gale Sayers
July 21, 2008
4:20 p.m.
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leatherneck writes:
That Bear was just dumpster diving for libs like Floydhill. He heard thats were the next peta meeting was. He was just hungery for some peta.
July 21, 2008
4:28 p.m.
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LadyBird112 writes:
Ics and Freedomfighter -
I am with you guys one hundred percent. It's not rocket science to figure out that when you encroach upon a wild animal's territory and take away their resources, their going to be desperate to find replacements. And if people are too lazy to wake up early enough for the garbage collection (do they not have jobs to get to?), then they need to pack their bags. The articles says that some town have garbage ordinances, but nowhere do they state what they are. I think they should go around and fine these mountain dwelling layabouts if their trash is outside overnight rather than on the day of pickup. That would teach people to take some responsibility.
July 21, 2008
4:29 p.m.
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Diff writes:
Yiota - I see you are at your "usual" high standards - and once again proving that what you have to say ADDS NOTHING of substance to the comments here - your best efforts at a constructive comment laid waste because of your name calling - and general foul mouth, having to build yourself up by putting others down.I put you and Floyd in the same bucket of "pathetic" , but you can not even join in the fracas against someone that most of the poster disagree with, without wallowing in you own feces...
You must have a huge inferiority complex.
July 21, 2008
4:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
Diff writes:
That said -
I wonder if the DPD and the Secret Service will offer a buffet of garbage cans somewhere outside the city to keep the bears away from the Pepsi center during the convention?
July 21, 2008
4:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
jerseycorn writes:
"I believe all God's creatures have a soul... except bears, bears are Godless killing machines!"
-- Stephen Colbert
My favorite Bear will always be Walter Payton. . .
July 21, 2008
4:48 p.m.
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Squatch writes:
MIke Singletary wasnt that bad of a bear he never attacked anyone who wasnt deserving.
July 23, 2008
11:21 a.m.
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Holly writes:
I've suggested removal of FloydHill's violent comments....which, unfortunately is all of them.
D.O.W. doesn't enjoy killing "problem" wildlife. Keeping bears and cougars out of human areas is a human responsibilty and we're failing miserably. Spring bear hunting season is not the answer. The whole reason for the conflicts is lack of habitat and the bears don't need spring hunting added to the list of threats against their survival. Additionally, you can't "train" a bear to avoid human areas by hunting it. Once it's dead the learning stops.