The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Danger is a real possibility…treat them like a burglar
As the calendar turns to August, the bears are becoming more prevalent and more aggressive in the valley. This is prime bear country and as people take better care with securing their trash, the bears become more aggressive looking for food. That can lead them into houses and cars, several of which have been invaded by bears in the last two weeks. Such situations can result in bear encounters and, in fact, two pets have died in the last two weeks from contact with bears.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife manager J Wenum said bear activity is definitely increasing throughout the area and everyone should expect August to be a time to see bears as they try to fatten up for winter hibernation. He said a small dog was killed by a bear on Sunday, July 29 in the Skyland neighborhood. “It appears the two animals startled each other and the bear swatted the dog. The dog was killed,” he confirmed.
Another dog was killed Friday, August 3 near Crested Butte on the Bench. “That incident took place about 8 o’clock Friday evening,” Wenum related. “The bear got in through an open window to a home just south of the town. A larger dog was inside the home and the bear attacked the dog. The homeowner then chased the bear out of the house. They were then transporting the dog to a vet when a Crested Butte Marshal showed up. The bear had hung around the house and was killed by the law enforcement personnel who arrived at the scene. It was about a 400 or 500-pound bear. The homeowner got the dog to the vet and it was treated that night but it succumbed to its wounds the next day.”
The extreme hot and dry conditions of the early summer seemed to draw the bears into population centers earlier than normal since backcountry food sources are leaner this year. But August is always a time when bruins are spotted throughout the valley.
In Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte, safety officials are getting regular calls about bears. In one recent incident, a bear entered a Crested Butte residence on Thursday, July 26 through a partially opened kitchen window. The owners were home and when they saw the bear in the kitchen they opened a door and yelled at the bear. It ran out the open door, but not before stealing an apple or two.
“We again want to remind everyone to be careful with the bears,” said Crested Butte Assistant Chief Marshal Ted Conner. “Even though it is hot out there, be careful to close your doors and windows. Bears are very adept at getting into garages or houses with any opening when they are attracted to food.”
Wenum and Conner both emphasized the importance of prevention. “Don’t leave trash or other attractants out. Bears will take advantage. They’re driven by their stomachs this time of year. We probably have another four to six weeks of dealing with hungry bears,” Wenum said. ”Prevention is key. It sounds like there have been three or four houses in Mt. Crested Butte that bears have gotten into through open windows. The Skyland, Crested Butte South and Meridian Lake neighborhoods are the same. Up in Pittsburg, a bear got into a mudroom and ate fish food. It returned and the owner sprayed it with pepper spray and the bear fled. That’s a good outcome. He’ll associate that house with extreme discomfort.
Wenum said bears have been spotted in local campgrounds. “It’s great country for a bear to be in and the campgrounds are located in that country. It’s the time of year we expect to see bears. They’ve got to start packing on the pounds for the winter.”
“It is so important to stay aware and keep your trash protected,” said Conner. “But also remember your grills and bird feeders. They attract bears and once the bears find a food source, they are reluctant to forget it. I’ve seen a couple of trashcans that the bears went after recently. They both had dirty diapers in them. That is an attractant to a bear.”
Wenum said that if you encounter a bear in your home, stay calm. “In most cases, bears will probably leave a home. First and foremost be safe and don’t put yourself in a hazardous circumstance,” he said. “Most bears will want to get away. Don’t place yourself between the bear and an exit. Don’t block the door. Give it an escape route. Then call 911.
“Now, the more a bear feels unwelcome, the less likely it is to stick around or come back,” Wenum continued. “Do something to make it feel unwelcome. Bang pots and pans, yell at it. Make it uncomfortable. Another thing we’ve seen is that pepper spray can be very effective. But you have to have a comfort level to use it and you have to use it appropriately. It’s an unpleasant experience if it gets on you. It creates a hot burning sensation. Bears use their nose so much, if it gets there, they know it’s no fun. They turn tail and go. But I really want to emphasize to be careful and use [the pepper spray] appropriately. Use it outside.”
Conner added, ”Any bear can be dangerous but we’ve had numerous sightings of a sow and two cubs in town. So if you see a smaller bear, don’t assume it’s by itself. And when the sow is around, it’s bad news.”
Wenum suspected that August would remain busy. “Secure your doors and windows, especially the ground-level windows. That’s how they’re getting in. Treat it like a burglar. That’s the best analogy.”
