Araaa Aquarian
Biology
Colleen Dunning
October 17, 2012
Human/Black Bear Conflict Colorado
Proposed Management & Monitoring
1. Mandated Bear Proof Garbage Cans/ Storage for Trashcans
The DPW reported local law enforcement agencies have gotten 140 calls in throughout June and July due to a disturbing trend that shows that bears are learning how to break into homes and cars (Colorado 2012). The bears are starting to get used to human foods and they are coming to look for it. Often, black bears (Ursus americanus) are drawn to residential areas in search of an easy meal. The bears come looking for food in public places and neighborhoods. With the recent rise in Mega-fires, habitat loss is likely to continue to increase across the western United States.
A. Details
• The county will mandate the people of Durango to have bear proof trash cans
• City of Durango will use trash cans from City of Durango Public Works
• City of Durango has 900 bear proof trash cans available for citizens
• Cans will be distributed before Spring 2013
• The trash cans would be purchased by the trash companies with some of the money that comes from our taxes
B. Benefits
· It would eliminate consumption of harmful human products for bears. Places where bear-proof containers are mandatory, such as National Parks, report bear conflict being practically nonexistent (Bear 2012).
· Encourage bears to eat natural foods
· Make a healthier diet for bears
· Contribute to the reduction of human/bear conflict
· Reducment of home destruction cause by bears
· Reducment of public sites that have been ruined by bears looking for food
C. Cons
· Moving trash that bears are used to getting from trash cans might make bears more aggressive in search for food
· Cost of trash cans would be expensive for the companies to provide and the price for citizens would slightly rise monthly
· There are nearly 5,500 homes in Durango so the cost of bear proof trash cans would be expensive for the companies
2. Public Education
Another reason we are having these conflicts with black bears is because of trash being left around public places that attract bears. This leads to dangerous human/bear conflict. This is happening all around the U.S. but black bear conflicts happens quite often here in Durango, Colorado. Especially in residential areas, neighborhoods and national parks. The real rise of this problem happened in the 1920’s at Yosemite National Park. The monitoring for this problem started in 1986. In Durango, Black bear-human conflict occurs most in between August and October when the bears are storing up on food for the winter and have high caloric needs.
A. Details
· Organizations such as Bear Smart Durango would educate citizens about ways to eliminate human bear conflict
· Encourage people to keep trash cans, pet food in safe/contained places where bears are not able to get to it
· Encourage people to keep bird feeders inside at night and during daytime, put it in high places where it is unreachable for bears. Do not leave bird feed on the ground
· Do not leave grills full of food. Clean grill thoroughly so that bears are not attracted to the smell.
B. Benefits
· People would learn how to mostly eliminate bear conflicts by following a few simple rules involving cleaning up after themselves
· There is almost no cost to these simple ways to avoid bear contact
· With results, if they are positive, more people will be encouraged to follow these rules
C. Cons
· Not all people will want to actually commit to doing all these things to avoid bear contact
· If citizens do not have bear proof containers/areas for trash cans and pet food, they will have to buy them
· Not all people will want to pay for materials needed to follow these rules
3. Monitoring
According to the Aspen Daily News, the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife has euthanized 20 bears so far in Pitkin County, Colorado. This number of bears euthanized surpasses the spring and summer combined euthanasia totals from the last two years. Bears who have been relocated have been known to come back to previous locations for example, in a neighborhood in Bayfield, Colorado there was recently a black bear incident where a young male went into the greenhouse did some property damage. Later that week, the same bear was seen on someone's porch.
A. Detail
• If bears are caught in a residential area and prove to be a nuisance, they will be tranquilized and tagged by Bear Smart Durango employees/volunteers
• After being tagged, bears will be relocated
• Bears will be relocated away from residential areas
• Relocated to forests way behind residential areas or national parks
• If bears come back, and if the bears are disruptive to residential areas, the bears will be euthanized by Bear Smart Durango employees/volunteers
B. Benefits
• If bears are proving to be a nuisance, they will be tagged and relocated
• Tagging bears lets us keep track of where they are and how they are doing
• Tagging will give a heads up if the bears start to wonder back after being relocated
C. Cons
• Many bears might be euthanized because they are used to coming to look for human food
• Relocating bears isn’t always the best thing, it takes a lot of manpower and it is very expensive (Bear 2012).
• So far, bear relocation has helped treat the symptoms but barely helps eliminate bears from getting into human foods (Bear 2012).
• Bears usually go back to previous spaces where they were relocated from and continue their previous behavior (Bear 2012).
• Bears who have been relocated have been killed in new locations (Bear 2012).
• Bears are killed in attempts to return to previous location (Bear 2012).
• Bears might get more aggressive since their easy human food privileges are being taken away
Biology
Colleen Dunning
October 17, 2012
Human/Black Bear Conflict Colorado
Proposed Management & Monitoring
1. Mandated Bear Proof Garbage Cans/ Storage for Trashcans
The DPW reported local law enforcement agencies have gotten 140 calls in throughout June and July due to a disturbing trend that shows that bears are learning how to break into homes and cars (Colorado 2012). The bears are starting to get used to human foods and they are coming to look for it. Often, black bears (Ursus americanus) are drawn to residential areas in search of an easy meal. The bears come looking for food in public places and neighborhoods. With the recent rise in Mega-fires, habitat loss is likely to continue to increase across the western United States.
A. Details
• The county will mandate the people of Durango to have bear proof trash cans
• City of Durango will use trash cans from City of Durango Public Works
• City of Durango has 900 bear proof trash cans available for citizens
• Cans will be distributed before Spring 2013
• The trash cans would be purchased by the trash companies with some of the money that comes from our taxes
B. Benefits
· It would eliminate consumption of harmful human products for bears. Places where bear-proof containers are mandatory, such as National Parks, report bear conflict being practically nonexistent (Bear 2012).
· Encourage bears to eat natural foods
· Make a healthier diet for bears
· Contribute to the reduction of human/bear conflict
· Reducment of home destruction cause by bears
· Reducment of public sites that have been ruined by bears looking for food
C. Cons
· Moving trash that bears are used to getting from trash cans might make bears more aggressive in search for food
· Cost of trash cans would be expensive for the companies to provide and the price for citizens would slightly rise monthly
· There are nearly 5,500 homes in Durango so the cost of bear proof trash cans would be expensive for the companies
2. Public Education
Another reason we are having these conflicts with black bears is because of trash being left around public places that attract bears. This leads to dangerous human/bear conflict. This is happening all around the U.S. but black bear conflicts happens quite often here in Durango, Colorado. Especially in residential areas, neighborhoods and national parks. The real rise of this problem happened in the 1920’s at Yosemite National Park. The monitoring for this problem started in 1986. In Durango, Black bear-human conflict occurs most in between August and October when the bears are storing up on food for the winter and have high caloric needs.
A. Details
· Organizations such as Bear Smart Durango would educate citizens about ways to eliminate human bear conflict
· Encourage people to keep trash cans, pet food in safe/contained places where bears are not able to get to it
· Encourage people to keep bird feeders inside at night and during daytime, put it in high places where it is unreachable for bears. Do not leave bird feed on the ground
· Do not leave grills full of food. Clean grill thoroughly so that bears are not attracted to the smell.
B. Benefits
· People would learn how to mostly eliminate bear conflicts by following a few simple rules involving cleaning up after themselves
· There is almost no cost to these simple ways to avoid bear contact
· With results, if they are positive, more people will be encouraged to follow these rules
C. Cons
· Not all people will want to actually commit to doing all these things to avoid bear contact
· If citizens do not have bear proof containers/areas for trash cans and pet food, they will have to buy them
· Not all people will want to pay for materials needed to follow these rules
3. Monitoring
According to the Aspen Daily News, the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife has euthanized 20 bears so far in Pitkin County, Colorado. This number of bears euthanized surpasses the spring and summer combined euthanasia totals from the last two years. Bears who have been relocated have been known to come back to previous locations for example, in a neighborhood in Bayfield, Colorado there was recently a black bear incident where a young male went into the greenhouse did some property damage. Later that week, the same bear was seen on someone's porch.
A. Detail
• If bears are caught in a residential area and prove to be a nuisance, they will be tranquilized and tagged by Bear Smart Durango employees/volunteers
• After being tagged, bears will be relocated
• Bears will be relocated away from residential areas
• Relocated to forests way behind residential areas or national parks
• If bears come back, and if the bears are disruptive to residential areas, the bears will be euthanized by Bear Smart Durango employees/volunteers
B. Benefits
• If bears are proving to be a nuisance, they will be tagged and relocated
• Tagging bears lets us keep track of where they are and how they are doing
• Tagging will give a heads up if the bears start to wonder back after being relocated
C. Cons
• Many bears might be euthanized because they are used to coming to look for human food
• Relocating bears isn’t always the best thing, it takes a lot of manpower and it is very expensive (Bear 2012).
• So far, bear relocation has helped treat the symptoms but barely helps eliminate bears from getting into human foods (Bear 2012).
• Bears usually go back to previous spaces where they were relocated from and continue their previous behavior (Bear 2012).
• Bears who have been relocated have been killed in new locations (Bear 2012).
• Bears are killed in attempts to return to previous location (Bear 2012).
• Bears might get more aggressive since their easy human food privileges are being taken away