Brief by Allen Best
Wildlife – January 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
With most bears in Colorado now removed to their dens for winter, this year’s death toll can now be reckoned.
Across the state, 59 bears were “put down,” to use the common euphemism for the killing of bears by state wildlife officials.
The death sentence is meted out to bears who have twice before been found to be comfortable being around people.
But bears in the Durango area died in a great many other ways.
Wildlife officials tell the Durango Telegraph that an additional 11 bears were killed by cars and trucks, 3 were killed because of threats to livestock, and 2 were electrocuted after climbing utility polls.
The issue of trash enticing bears is a problem in Durango, as it is most everywhere else where bears can be found. Last summer, Bear Smart volunteers tagged more than 1,500 “problem” trash cans with reminders to keep trash secure.
A new law in Durango requires homes and businesses where trash has attracted bears to adopt bear-proofing measures. Some 100 bear-proof cans have been leased after cans costing $200 each found few takers.
