{"id":2177030,"date":"2024-08-06T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2177030"},"modified":"2024-08-03T08:23:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-03T07:23:35","slug":"campers-warned-after-human-bear-conflicts-come-in-hot-and-heavy-signalling-worrying-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/campers-warned-after-human-bear-conflicts-come-in-hot-and-heavy-signalling-worrying-trend\/","title":{"rendered":"Campers warned after human-bear conflicts come in “hot and heavy,” signalling worrying trend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wildlife officers in southern Colorado have issued a public warning after seeing a “worriesome” increase in human-bear conflicts this summer. Earlier this year, we reported that 2023 had brought a significant drop in human-bear conflicts in the state.<\/p>\n

According to a press release issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, significantly more bear traps have already been set this summer compared to last year, and they’re not sure of the season for the uptick.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s weird because things are green, we\u2019ve had decent moisture and natural food is available, so it\u2019s hard to explain why we are having so many issues,\u201d says CPW Area Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta of Durango.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been hot and heavy here for the last two or three weeks, and it\u2019s not showing signs of slowing down.”<\/p>\n

Though it’s normal for bear activity to increase ahead of hyperphagia, when bears fatten up before going into winter torpor, that doesn’t typically occur until late summer early fall.<\/p>\n

\"Though
Though it’s normal for bear activity to increase ahead of hyperphagia, that doesn’t typically occur until late summer early fall (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though it’s normal for bear activity to increase ahead of hyperphagia, that doesn’t typically occur until late summer early fall (Image credit: Getty Images)
\nThe news release explains that one reason for the increase might be down to more bears living in “marginal habitats” closer to human habitation. Regardless of the cause, however, CPW has a clear message for everyone in southern Colorado: remove attractants from your home and keep a clean camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncidents start with a bear getting into one cooler at a campground, and then a few weeks later, we have a bear getting into a tent or leaning on hard-sided campers,\u201d says Archuleta, who added that at-home attractants like pet food, unsecured trash, uncleaned BBQ grills and hummingbird feeders also present an issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe incidents people think are small \u2013 like that cooler or pet food \u2013 lead to behavior that presents a danger to human health and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs this year is proving, just because you haven\u2019t seen a bear in several years, doesn\u2019t mean that one won\u2019t show up this week and take advantage of a human food source. Make those food sources unavailable and a bear will move on,” says Kevin Bryan, District Wildlife Manager in Cedaredge.<\/p>\n

Staying safe while camping in bear country<\/h2>\n

The best way to deal with bear encounters is to avoid them in the first place. If you are camping in bear country, the CPW has the following advice:<\/p>\n