As encounters between bears and people – in cars,
campgrounds and backyards – increase around Colorado’s burgeoning
mountain communities, the state’s Division of Wildlife is
conducting ground-breaking studies on the wily bruin. Veteran
researcher Tom Beck has captured 42 bears so far near Kremmling,
Colo., and is tagging and radio-collaring them as part of a
population analysis.
Meanwhile, state wildlife
manager Ron Velarde has begun a three-year study in southern
Colorado to monitor the activity of “problem bears’ after their
capture and release. He hopes to learn how far the bears move after
relocation and how well they adapt.
So far,
three of the bears he’s following have been killed under the
state’s “two strikes’ policy and one has been poached. Since bears
bear the brunt of people encounters by losing their lives, wildlife
managers are urging homeowners in bear country to clean barbecue
grills, bring pet food inside and use bear-proof trash bins. Says
biologist Bob Davies: “We have a people problem, not a bear
problem.”
For a copy of the Division’s brochure,
Living with Wildlife in Bear Country, contact the Colorado Division
of Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303/291-7410).
*Diane Kelly
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Colorado learns bear facts.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
