Mission Statement:

In 2017, 30 Black Bears were euthanized in the Pike Peak Region, because they were attracted to trash and other edibles, often left outside at night. Place garbage outside ONLY on trash collections day (per city law) or use a bear proof container. Let's get 30 deaths down to zero-soon!

We are:
Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Council of Neighbors and Organizations (CONO)
City of Colorado Springs
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Many Neighbors and Volunteers

Sunday, October 13, 2019

City Council passes bear resistant trash ordinance in west Colorado Springs

KRDO
October 8, 2019


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado Springs City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday that will require some Colorado Springs residences west of I-25 to invest in bear-resistant trash cans or to abide by a trash collection curfew.
The vote, which passed unanimously 9-0, offers residents two options to manage their trash to help control bear activity. If residents are able to store their trash receptacle securely -- like in a garage -- they will have to put out their trash can no earlier than 5 a.m. on collection day and return it to its secure location no later than 7 p.m.
The second option is to invest in a bear resistant trash can. Residences without a garage or similarly secure facility to store their trash will be required to buy a bear resistant receptacle.
Several Colorado Parks and Wildlife regional groups voiced their excitement and approval of the vote.
CPW Southeast Region posted the following on Twitter:
'"We applaud @COSCityCouncil for its leadership & willingness to tackle sensitive wildlife issues," said Frank McGee, @COParksWildlife area wildlife manager for #ColoradoSprings. "First the council made it illegal to feed wildlife. Now they are protecting bears. We are grateful."'
Colorado Springs will become the largest city in Colorado to implement an ordinance of this nature, CPW SE region said in a tweet. Other smaller cities, like Manitou Springs and Boulder, have similar laws in place.

"We applaud @COSCityCouncil for its leadership & willingness to tackle sensitive wildlife issues," said Frank McGee, @COParksWildlife area wildlife manager for . "First the council made it illegal to feed wildlife. Now they are protecting bears. We are grateful."

View image on Twitter
When the ordinance mandating bear-sensitive trash handling is final and takes effect, will become the largest city in Colorado to protect bears with such a law. Boulder and other smaller towns including Manitou Springs have passed similar ordinances.

View image on Twitter

See CPW SE Region's other Tweets

Previous story
The City of Colorado Springs proposed an ordinance that would require residents in bear-frequented areas to use bear resistant trash cans, the City announced Monday.
City Council Members Richard Skorman and Don Knight invited the public to attend two community meetings to discuss a proposed ordinance which would require bear resistant trash cans west of I-25 and establish a “Bear Management Area Map.”
If the ordinance is passed by City Council there could be a financial impact to residents and businesses within the Bear Management Area. 
If trash cans are already kept in a secured area, the ordinance proposes a quasi curfew for the receptacle. The trash receptacle would have to be placed out for garbage collection no earlier than 5 a.m. on the day of collection, and returned to its secured area no later than 7 p.m. the same day.
This proposal was discussed at the July 22 City Council Work Session. You can view the video from that meeting and review the documents presented to Council here.
There will be two public meetings with Council members, Richard Skorman (District 3) and Don Knight (District 1), who both represent the entire area of Colorado Springs west of I-25. Representatives from the City of Colorado Springs Neighborhood Services, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region will also be available to answer questions.

Public Meeting Details:
August 22, 6-7:30 pm -- Fire Station 18, 6830 Hadler View
August 29, 6-7:30 pm -- Westside Community Center, 1628 W Bijou Street





Be smart, be bear smart and pick up a cart

Pikes Peak Bulletin
June 27, 2019


Courtesy of Bear Smart Manitou Springs

On Monday, June 24, Bear Smart Manitou Springs took delivery of 100 wildlife-resistant trash carts. With the help of the Manitou Springs Department of Public Services, the carts were unloaded onto a city flat-bed
— the semi they arrived on was too long to make it to the Public Works yard on Banks Place.

The distribution of these carts is another step in Bear Smart’s efforts to “keep bears and people safe.” They will be free or at a reduced cost to Manitou Springs residents depending on need.

Applications for carts will be available beginning Monday, July 15, at City Hall and through the Manitou Springs Bear Smart website (bearsmartmanitousp. wixsite.com/bearsmartmanitou). More information to follow.

We are grateful the Summerlee Foundation provided a grant to purchase bear-resistant carts through the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.

HSPPR is a member of the Colorado Springs Bear Smart Taskforce (much like the Manitou Springs Bear Smart Task Force), a group of organizations and citizens who support an ordinance to reduce human/bear conflict by restricting access to food, trash and bird feeders. They work to foster a better understanding of black bears and significantly reduce the number of bears euthanized in the area due to human/bear interaction.

“The success of the Manitou Springs ordinance provides a model for Colorado Springs to emulate. Providing bear-resistant carts to people in need will help with ordinance compliance,” said Jan McHugh-Smith, certified animal welfare administrator, president and CEO of HSPPR.




Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Colorado Springs released draft of ordinance

Colorado Springs released draft of ordinance amending Article 4 of Chapter 6, Pertaining to waste disposal within a Bear Management Area.

Town Hall meetings to discuss ordinance:

    1. August 22, 2019 at Fire Station 18, 6830 Hadler View from 6- 7:30 pm.
    2. August 29th, 2019 at Westside Community Center
1628 W Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
6 to 7:30 pm.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Red Rock Canyon trails reopen after search for aggressive bear

FOX 21
August 13, 2019



All trails in Red Rock Canyon Open Space have reopened after a temporary closure this weekend, according to the city.

Several trails in the western Colorado Springs park were closed while Colorado Parks and Wildlife tracked an aggressive bear that confronted a hiker and two dogs Thursday near the Section 16 trailhead.

CPW has called off its search and removed all traps, according to the city. The bear has not been found.

The city is reminding trail users to be alert for wildlife, hike in pairs, and keep pets leashed.

To report aggressive bear activity, call Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 719-227-5200. If it’s a life-threatening emergency, call 911.


Proposed ordinance would require bear-resistant trash cans west of I-25 in Colorado Springs

9News
August 12, 2019

The ordinance would also establish a “Bear Management Area Map.”

Two community meetings are being held in Colorado Springs to discuss a proposed ordinance that would require bear-resistant trash cans west of Interstate 25.

A news release from the city of Colorado Springs said If trash cans or other waste receptacles are already kept in a secured area, the proposed ordinance would require people to place the receptacle for collection no earlier than 5 a.m. on the day of collection, and return it to the secured area no later than 7 p.m. on the same day.

The ordinance would also establish a “Bear Management Area Map.”

Council members Richard Skorman (District 3) and Don Knight (District 1), who represent the entire area of Colorado Springs west of I-25, will attend the meetings. Representatives from the City of Colorado Springs Neighborhood Services, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region will also be available to answer questions.

Public meeting details:

Colorado Springs might require west side residents, businesses to get bear-resistant trash cans


KKTV
August 13, 2019




COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Colorado Springs is mulling requiring bear-resistant trash cans for people living west of I-25.

It's no secret area bears have treated west side neighborhoods as their own personal buffet when residents have failed to secure their trash. For years, Colorado Parks and Wildlife have pleaded with the public to stop making it so easy for bears to get food.

"We need to keep them away from people food, and if they are getting into people food we need to intervene," Frank McGee with CPW told 11 News in a 2017 interview.

"It's important for us to know what's going on so that we can intervene at an early stage. ... What we need is to be able to intervene early enough before those bears lose their fear of people, before they become dangerous."

Along with requiring bear-resistant cans, the ordinance would also require that trash be set out no earlier than 5 a.m. on the day of collection and returned no later than 7 p.m.

The proposed ordinance will be discussed in upcoming town hall meetings later this month, our news partners at The Gazette report. The first will be on Aug. 22 at Fire Station 18, 6830 Hadler View, and the second will be Aug. 29 at the Westside Community Center, 1628 W. Bijou St. Both will run from 6-7:30 p.m., and officials from CPW, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and the city's Neighborhood Services department will be on hand to answer questions.


Colorado Springs might require residents, businesses to get bear-resistant trash cans


The Gazette
August 12, 2019


A proposed ordinance that would require bear-resistant trash cans west of Interstate 25 will be discussed during two town halls this month with City Council members.


The ordinance could have a financial effect on residents and businesses. But if waste receptacles already are kept in a secured area, the proposed ordinance would only require that the trash bin be set out no earlier than 5 a.m. on the day of collection and returned to the secured area no later than 7 o’clock that night.


The meetings will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The first one is Aug. 22 at Fire Station 18, 6830 Hadler View, with Councilman Don Knight. The second is Aug. 29 at the Westside Community Center, 1628 W. Bijou St., with Council President Richard Skorman. Officials from the city’s Neighborhood Services, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region also will be available to answer questions.


CPW unable to track aggressive bear with dogs, cameras and snares now in place.

KOAA 5

Colorado Parks and Wildlife interview with Frank McGee, Wildlife Manager about black bear attack in Colorado Springs.  Learn how to stay safe in our wildlands.

WATCH HERE >>

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Help keep Colorado Springs' bears wild

  •  Cheyenne Edition
     May 29, 2109

    As our black bears come out of hibernation and begin roaming our neighborhoods, the Colorado Springs Bear Smart Task Force is asking all residents to do their part in keeping the bears wild and preventing human/bear conflicts.
    The bears will be hungry as they wake up and will begin searching for the easiest food source, which is frequently unsecured trash. Many have been habituated to search for garbage because it’s always been available.
    In 2017, 30 bears were euthanized west of I-25. This is unacceptable for a city that prides itself on being home to a diverse wildlife population. We have been fortunate that there have been no direct human/bear conflicts, but this scenario becomes more likely as bears become more comfortable around humans.
    To keep our residents safe and our bears wild, here are a few actions that will significantly reduce human/bear conflicts:
    • Put your trash out only on the morning of pick up (not the night before), or store it in a bear resistant cart or enclosure. There is no such thing as a bear-proof cart.
    • Place all bird feeders, including hummingbird feeders, out of the reach of bears, or better yet, move them indoors at night.
    • Keep pets and livestock in a secure, roofed enclosure if they are outside overnight.
    • Reduce the number of attractants around your home, including food, unclean grills, garbage containing food scraps or odors, and composts containing food. It is helpful to freeze any food items that are in the trash
    • Lock all bear-accessible doors and windows in your home and garage at night and when you are not at home. This is particularly critical if you have a freezer full of food in your garage.
    • Remove all food items, bags and wrappers from your cars parked outside and keep the windows and doors closed and locked.
    Unsecured garbage is the single largest attractant for bears because it is such an easy food source. Additionally, trash providers, neighbors and residents must spend extra time picking up trash that has been ransacked by bears.
    Please join the Colorado Springs Bear Smart Task Force in our efforts to protect and preserve our bear population and our community. By working together and taking simple steps to secure and remove attractants, we can make such a difference.
    Vickie Smith is a member of the Colorado Springs Bear Smart Task Force, a group of concerned citizens working to reduce the number of bears euthanized in Colorado Springs. Learn more at springsbeartaskforce.blogspot.com. Submit your guest columns to the editor at hannah.maginot@pikespeaknewspapers.com for print consideration.

    Be smart, be bear smart and pick up a cart

    Pikes Peak Bulletin
    June 27, 2019


    Courtesy of Bear Smart Manitou Springs

    On Monday, June 24, Bear Smart Manitou Springs took delivery of 100 wildlife-resistant trash carts. With the help of the Manitou Springs Department of Public Services, the carts were unloaded onto a city flat-bed
    — the semi they arrived on was too long to make it to the Public Works yard on Banks Place.

    The distribution of these carts is another step in Bear Smart’s efforts to “keep bears and people safe.” They will be free or at a reduced cost to Manitou Springs residents depending on need.
    Applications for carts will be available beginning Monday, July 15, at City Hall and through the Manitou Springs Bear Smart website (bearsmartmanitousp. wixsite.com/bearsmartmanitou). More information to follow.
    We are grateful the Summerlee Foundation
    provided a grant to purchase bear-resistant carts through the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
    HSPPR is a member of the Colorado Springs Bear Smart Taskforce (much like the Manitou Springs Bear Smart Task Force), a group of organizations and citizens who support an ordinance to reduce human/bear conflict by restricting access to food, trash and bird feeders. They work to foster a better understanding of black bears and significantly reduce the number of bears euthanized in the area due to human/bear interaction.

    “The success of the Manitou Springs ordinance provides a model for Colorado Springs to emulate. Providing bear-resistant carts to people in need will help with ordinance compliance,” said Jan McHugh-Smith, certified animal welfare administrator, president and CEO of HSPPR. 


    Saturday, April 13, 2019

    Bear destroys vehicle in search of gummy bears

    A woman has learned the hard way that bears enjoy eating their gummy equivalent.
    The woman said her vehicle was severely damaged by a hungry bear who managed to find a bag of gummy bears in the car.
    Every door, every wire, almost every inch inside the Subaru Forester is destroyed.
    "He must have just got in, got up and around, got in the backseat and left a little surprise in the backseat," Cate Siegel said.
    She was headed to work Thursday morning when she walked outside her home to find both her car and the garage door were open.
    "There was a garage opener in the car. He swiped that, must have stepped on it, opened the garage door but luckily our trash had just been taken out," Siegel said. "I assume he's not too big because he was able to get around my car and maneuver it."
    It made its way through her neighborhood, leaving trash in a few yards and then into her car to find a sweet treat.
    "Gummy bears! His own kind, I guess," Siegel said.
    She said the candy was in a sealed bag, part of a gift basket from an event the night before.

    Monday, March 4, 2019

    Two Young Black Bears Roaming Breckenridge During Hibernation Months

    CPW officials say bears are not “true” hibernators and wake up often during the winter. The bears hibernate because of the lack of food. “The response to hibernate is based on the availability of food. Where is the food coming from? Trash and garbage. This is something we’re seeing a lot of,” officials told CBS4.  Watch it on CBS4


    Tuesday, January 29, 2019

    Orphaned Bears Relocated to Den to Hiberate

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife placed cubs in a man-made den to hibernate until spring.   The cubs were orphaned when their mothers had to be euthanized because they were problem bears or were killed by cars.  Check out the story by reporter Jennifer Brown of The Colorado Sun.


    https://coloradosun.com/2019/01/16/orphaned-bear-cubs-colorado/

    Monday, September 17, 2018

    Bear Smart Task Force at Pawtoberfest

    Bear Aware and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo volunteers at Pawtoberfest, October 15th at Bear Creek Regional Park


    Sunday, September 9, 2018

    Point-of-Distribution Prototype Finished


    Getting the Bear Smart Message Out to Bear-Impacted Areas



    We are hoping to get 10-15 of these displays into libraries, bear-themed restaurants, pet supply stores, Starsmore and locations where folks can learn more, pick up door hangers and literature to help save our bears.  This one found a home at the Library on 8th street.   Contact us by email or text if you can help!

    10 Banners, Need Volunteers to Place Each Weekend



    10 Banners Available, need Volunteers to Place Each Weekend, one per Zip Code


    If you can volunteer to place a banner, Friday noon to Monday noon, please email above and we will deliver a banner you.  These are very effective in cleaning up the trash problem and saving our local bears!

    Monday, June 25, 2018

    Bear Aware Helpers


    Bear Aware Helpers Distribute Shopping Bags and Refrigerator Magnets in 80905 - 80906





    And nifty handouts at the Starsmore Center...




    Pet Stores distribute bear aware shopping bags to customers in Broadmoor-Skyway area:





    Fellowship of the Rockies and Broadmoor Community Church give out bear aware refrigerator magnets for kids to take home:







    Magnets are very popular with kids...



    Saturday, June 9, 2018

    Your Local Bear Information Center and Southern Colorado Wildlife Team


    Stop in for bear, deer and wildlife issues, get information, get help, solve problems and learn more about living with Southern Colorado wildlife.  

    "Bear Aware" Sign Available for Your Neighborhood




    This banner is available for your neighborhood, email us and we will drop it on your access road, Friday noon - Sunday evening. Banner donated by The Sign Shop 3503 E. Platte Avenue

    Friday, June 8, 2018

    Bear breaks into Pitkin Post Office, Euthanized


    May 18, 2018, This bear breaks into the Pitkin Post Office in Pitkin, Colorado (Western Slope).  The ear tag notes it has been a problem bear.  On this second incident, it wrecked the Post Office and was euthanized. The earlier dangerous encounter was in Buena Vista. 



    Story and photo courtesy CBS-TV Channel 4, Denver

    The Best Way to Prevent Needless Bear Deaths is to Manage Your Trash!


    Put trash out after 5 AM or use a locking trash bin (order from Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Walmart or your trash services provider) 

    Bear/Human Conflicts 2013-2017 in the Pikes Peak Region