Under Colorado law, placed in effect yesterday, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor for placing food or edible waste in the open to lure a wild bear. The new law repeals the requirement that a first offense be given a warning and raises the fine for a third or subsequent offense from $2,000 to $5,000.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), last year 57% of bear sightings were linked to food found in the trash. Sixty-eight black bears were relocated, while 98 were euthanized because of incidents with humans.
There are nearly 20,000 bears in Colorado. CPW says drought conditions and fire have destroyed many food sources driving wildlife into lower elevations in search of food.
Residents should always secure trash by keeping garbage inside a locked garage or sturdy building, or use certified bear-resistant container. Additionally pet food should be similarly secured. It is important to monitor pets at all times when outdoors and be aware of your surroundings.
For information on how to better bear-proof your trash go to this CPW document: https://cogs.us/DocumentCenter/View/9763/Bearproofing-Trash—Colorado-Parks-and-Wildlife-PDF
