By: Kris Hazelton

The bears are hungry in and around Estes Park and the Division of Wildlife is reminding residents and visitors to always be bear aware.

EP News Photo

Because they are large omnivores, bears are nearly always on a search for food. Wild foods are essential for bears-berries, insects, plants and carrion. But when people fail to store garbage, pet food or bird feeders properly, bears will find those easy food sources and cause conflicts in residential and business areas.

Bears that become habituated to human food sources can be dangerous and often must be euthanized. It’s up to us to make sure bears don’t find our homes and vehicles as an easy food find.

Lately, we have been receiving reports of bears wandering into homes and getting into refrigerators or cabinets in search of food. DOW personnel and the DOW Bear Aware volunteers in town are urging residents that despite the hot weather, please do not leave your doors or lower windows open. An open door or window virtually invites a bear into your home and when inside this can be a very dangerous and messy situation.

As residents who live in bear county, these simple precautions can reduce or eliminate your chances of creating conflicts with bears:

• Keep garbage in a secure building or a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.

• If you don’t have a place to store garbage, invest in a bear-resistant trash container available at True Value Hardware here in town.

• Place smelly food scraps in the freezer until garbage day.

• Rinse out all cans, bottles and jars so that they are free of food and odors before putting them out for recycling or pick-up.

• Put out garbage cans only on the morning of pick-up. Do not put out garbage the night before.

• Wash garbage cans regularly with ammonia to eliminate food odors.

• Don’t leave pet food or pet dishes outside.

• Bird feeders are a major cause of wildlife conflicts. Besides bears, feeders may also attract small mammals, deer and mountain lions. Birds do not need to be fed during the summer. As an alternative to feeders, attract birds naturally by hanging flower baskets, putting out a bird bath or planting a variety of flowers. Use bird feeders only from November until the end of March when bears are hibernating.

• If bears get into bird feeders, take the feeders down immediately and don’t put them back up.

• Pick ripe fruit from trees and off the ground.

• Clean outdoor grills after each use; the smell of grease can attract bears.

• Never intentionally feed bears.

• Close and lock lower floor windows and doors of your house.

• Clean up thoroughly after outdoor parties.

• Don’t leave food in your car, lock car doors. Bears are smart and many have learned to open car doors.

• When camping, store food and garbage inside a locked vehicle. Keep the campsite clean. Don’t eat in the tent. In the backcountry, hang your food at least 10 feet high and 10 feet away from anything a bear can climb.

• Bears are not naturally aggressive toward people and prefer to avoid contact. If you see a bear in your neighborhood make it feel unwelcome: yell at it, throw sticks and rocks at it. But never approach a bear.

Remember this: “a fed bear is a dead bear.” Making food available to bears teaches them to associate humans with food — and that’s the start of conflict.

In case of potentially dangerous situations, please call the Estes Park Police Dispatch number at 586-4000 who can contact a CDOW Wildlife Manager in the area.

To report bear problems, contact a DOW Bear Aware Volunteer Jim Boyd at 970-586-3341 ext. 1003 or 481-4279 or 586-2407

Jayne Zmijewski at 970-586-9427 or

Kris & Gary Hazelton at 970-231-2635

To learn more about living with bears, go to the DOW’s web site: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/.

A trash can spilled by a bear. EP NEWS/ Hazelton

By: Kris Hazelton

The past few weeks two young cinnamon colored yearling bears have been seen in and around the Fall River area getting into trash cans, dumpsters, bird feeders, grills and pet food bowls for a quick and easy meal.

According to Rick Spowart, Division of Wildlife Manager, “Unless people change their habits, these bears are doomed to die a tragic death!”

Spowart and local Bear Aware volunteers have been extremely busy, following these young bears around, trying to give them a negative human experience and teach them that they should not be seeking food around human sources.

Shocking as it sounds, simple human foods like sunflower seeds in a birdfeeder, peaches on your windowsill and trash in your trash can and do kill bears every year.

Why? Because once a bear finds these easy sources of food, they can become conditioned almost immediately to favor them over the more difficult to find and less calorie laden natural bear foods such as clover and grasses, ants and grubs, and wild berries.

Spowart hates the thought that he may have to put either or both of these bears down, if residents and business owners cannot follow a few simple rules, because a bear seeking human foods is certain to come in conflict sooner or later with people and that can be a very dangerous situation.

We need to change our behaviors so we can prevent the death of these beautiful animals. Moving the bears is not an option. According to Spowart, “Capturing and removing bears to new areas has a history of mixed success. I’ve only had one successful bear move, all the others have resulted in the death of the bear.”

Training bears to go back to natural food sources by using tazers, cracker shells and bean bag rounds to convince a bear to move off and stay away from areas used by humans is also a time consuming and trying situation but that is what has to be done at this point to try to convince the bears to move back into the wild.

However, it is useless to move or retrain bears only to have them relearn their dangerous habits because nearby residents fail to eliminate access to bear attractants.

The most effective way to save our bears is to prevent them from obtaining any human foods or garbage in the first place. It is that simple, and that difficult. “If every individual does their part to prevent a bear from having easy access to human foods, our bear conflict problem would be virtually solved. If these bears are going to live, we need to take away these attractants!” said Spowart.

A bear in search of food. EP NEWS/ Hazelton

Barbecue Grills- Grills with food and grease attract bears. Keep grills clean after each use and store them in a secure location. Attend to food as it cooks outdoors, and when it is done promptly remove anything that would attract a bear including coolers, utensils, leftovers and used paper plates and cups.

Pets and Pet Food-Pet food and food bowls should not be filled and left out overnight, or left unattended. Feed pets indoors. Especially avoid feeding pets outside at dawn or dusk when bears are most active. Store pet food in a safe, secured area or bear-proof container.

Vehicles-Don’t leave food or garbage in the passenger compartment of a vehicle or the back of a pick-up truck as bears can pry open the windows and doors to access even traces of food on old paper plates or drops of soda pop in cans or used cups.

Human Garbage-Human garbage is a primary bear attractant. Garbage left out over night has a 70 percent chance of attracting a bear. Garbage put out in the morning of trash pick-up has only a two percent chance of attracting a bear. Trash should be stored during the week in a bear-proof location. Freeze particularly smelly items, and keep your trash container clean.

Birdfeeders-Avoid birdfeeders from now through November. Birds don’t need supplemental feed at this time, and birdseed is irresistible to bears. When using birdseed, store it in a bear-proof container in a secure location. Hummingbird feeders are especially attractive to bears. Seeds and sweetened liquids are high in calories.

Remember this-A fed bear is a dead bear.

For more information or if you have a bear problem, please call Division of Wildlife Manager Rick Spowart at the police station at 586-4000, or you may contact DOW Bear Aware Volunteers in our area:

Jayne Zmijewski at 970-586-9427

Jim Boyd at 970-586-3341 ext. 1003 or 481-4279 or 586-2407 or

Kris & Gary Hazelton at 970-231-2635

In case of potentially dangerous situations, please call the Estes Park Police Dispatch number at 586-4000 or 911 in an emergency, who can contact police and a CDOW Wildlife Manager in the area.

Photos courtesy Judy Andersen

At the beaver pond on Fish Creek Road Wednesday evening, a beaver chewed down a tree which landed on nearby power lines and caused several small explosions and a small fire where the tree rested on the lines.

EP News/Kris Hazelton

Bears are emerging from their long winter naps throughout Colorado, and the Division of Wildlife is reminding residents and visitors to always be bear aware.

At this time of year, bears will be looking for new plant growth and fresh grass to eat to help them restart their digestive systems. But bears, once they are up and running, are opportunistic feeders and will exploit any available food supply, including: garbage, pet food, bird seed, and home and restaurant table scraps. Bears that become habituated to human food sources can be dangerous and often must be euthanized.

Because they are large omnivores, bears are nearly always on a search for food. Wild foods are essential for bears-berries, insects, acorns forbs, plants and carrion. But when people fail to store garbage, pet food or bird feeders properly, bears will find those sources and cause conflicts in residential and business areas.

Many communities in bear country have ordinances regarding trash storage that apply to wildlife, so abide by those rules.

If you live in bear country, these simple precautions can reduce or eliminate your chances of creating conflicts with bears:

• Keep garbage in a secure building or a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.

• If you don’t have a place to store garbage, ask the trash company for a bear-resistant container or order one. Many suppliers advertise containers on the Internet.

• Place smelly food scraps in the freezer until garbage day.

• Rinse out all cans, bottles and jars so that they are free of food and odors before putting them out for recycling or pick-up.

• Put out garbage cans only on the morning of pick-up. Do not put out garbage the night before.

• Wash garbage cans regularly with ammonia to eliminate food odors.

• Don’t leave pet food or pet dishes outside.

• Bird feeders are a major cause of wildlife conflicts. Besides bears, feeders may also attract small mammals, deer and mountain lions. Birds do not need to be fed during the summer. As an alternative to feeders, attract birds naturally by hanging flower baskets, putting out a bird bath or planting a variety of flowers. Use bird feeders only from November until the end of March when bears are hibernating.

• If bears get into bird feeders, take the feeders down immediately and don’t put them back up.

• Pick ripe fruit from trees and off the ground.

• Clean outdoor grills after each use; the smell of grease can attract bears.

• Never intentionally feed bears.

• Close and lock lower floor windows and doors of your house.

• Clean up thoroughly after outdoor parties.

• Don’t leave food in your car, lock car doors. Bears are smart and many have learned to open car doors.

• When camping, store food and garbage inside a locked vehicle. Keep the campsite clean. Don’t eat in the tent. In the backcountry, hang your food at least 10 feet high and 10 feet away from anything a bear can climb.

• Bears are not naturally aggressive toward people and prefer to avoid contact. If you see a bear in your neighborhood make it feel unwelcome: yell at it, throw sticks and rocks at it. But never approach a bear.

Remember this: “a fed bear is a dead bear.” Making food available to bears teaches them to associate humans with food — and that’s the start of conflict.

To report bear problems, contact the Estes Park Police Dept. at 586-4000 who will dispatch DOW and/or a Bear Aware volunteer.

To learn more about living with bears, go to the DOW’s web site: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/.

Photos courtesy Jayne Zmijewski

Its time to be informed and reminded that the mountain lions are becoming quite active. These awesome animals are around the Estes Valley and surrounding areas and cat researchers and DOW volunteers \are asking for your help in locating any lions in the area.

The Rocky Mountain Cat Conservacy and DOW educational and response volunteers are available when there are sightings, kill sites or animal tracks to identify.

Proper interaction rules of behavior for animal encounters are:

• Do not approach any animal for any reason.

• Photograph from a distance

• Bring your pets in at night.

• Stay away from kill sites, they are very dangerous

• Trash, dog and cat food bowls, bird feeders should always be in a secure place and brought in at night.

You may call DOW volunteers or Cat Conservacy volunteers for track identification, to report sightings and kill sites, and/or for educational assistance.

Information is available on mountain lions at Rocky Mountain Cat Conservancy website at www.catconservancy.org or you may call

Jayne Zmijewski at 970-586-9427

DOW Volunteers-Kris & Gary Hazelton at 970-231-2635

In case of potentially dangerous situations, please call the Estes Park Police Dispatch number at 586-4000 who can contact a CDOW Wildlife Manager in the area.

Mule deer on the run.

By: Kris Hazelton

Cars and deer/elk are a lethal combination. During the deer and elk mating season, which runs from October through December, there is a dramatic increase in the movement of these animals.

Rick Spowart, Colorado Division of Wildlife Manager tells us that he has seen many car vs. deer/elk accidents in our area lately and he wants drivers to be aware of the situation to help avoid any accidents which may result in human and animal injury or even death.

When mating season comes, mule deer bucks and elk bulls will chase females with little regard for their own safety. During this time of year, they have one thing in mind above all others and their desire to mate can send them just about anywhere, including into the path of oncoming cars.

Also, when daylight saving time ends at the end of October, more commuters are on the road at dusk, a peak time for deer/elk activity.

When those annual events coincide, the result is especially risky for deer/elk and motorists alike.

The last quarter of the year typically sees a marked increase in deer and elk vs-car collisions. October, November and December have the highest incidents of these animal car collisions.

These animals can be unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights and fast-moving vehicles and they often dart right into traffic.

There are steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of being involved in a deer/elk vehicle collision.

Deer and elk often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely more in the vicinity and you should slow down your vehicle.

Always wear your seat belt and stay awake, alert and sober.

When driving at night, use high-beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of the animals on or near the roadway.

Be aware that many people will flash their lights to warn oncoming cars of wildlife in or near the roadway. This is especially helpful when driving in the canyons. Pay attention to these warnings.

Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest-risk times for deer/elk vehicle collisions.

Brake firmly when you notice an animal in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer/elk and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.

In the event your vehicle strikes a deer/elk try to avoid going near or touching the animal. A frightened and wounded animal can hurt you or further injure itself. If the animal is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should call the police immediately.

By slowing down and staying alert, we can help to avoid many car vs. deer/elk collisions.

Butch points to the damage caused by the bull elk’s antlers after it attacked his car

Elk are very watchable wildlife in Estes Park during the fall rutting season. Mature bulls form harems of cows and defend that harem from other bulls. It’s fascinating behavior to watch and includes sparring, fighting and bugling (which is the unique sound a bull makes during the breeding season).

On Monday morning, EPVFD personnel got a fire alarm call and when Firefighter Butch Lundstedt approached the fire station, he observed a herd of elk that had gathered near the parking lot. In addition to the elk, a large crowd of tourists and their vehicles had also gathered and as Butch drove into the fire department to get a truck to respond, a particularly ‘pumped up’ bull charged his car and rammed his antlers into the passenger side door of his new car. Also, when the fire trucks Continue Reading