HELP US KEEP BEARS WILD

Saving our Bears One Trash Can At A Time

The Roaring Fork Valley Bear Coalition, a proactive volunteer-based non-profit, is dedicated to reducing human-bear conflicts over a 50-mile corridor. Our citizen groups respond to community needs by reducing attractants, educating residents, and working alongside stakeholders: CPW, municipalities & trash-haulers to achieve common community goals, enforcement, and actions that protect black bears. Join us, rally your communities, and become solution-based! If you have a bear issue, please feel free to reach out to us for help and advice.

Latest News & Media

Bear Aware

Want to help starving bears? Don’t feed them.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife shares urgent guidance for helping bears during an exceptionally difficult natural-food year.

Read the article → GrassRoots TV

Save a Bear, Be Bear Aware

Daniela Kohl joins Erik Skarvan on The Local’s Show with practical ways to keep people and bears safe.

Watch the interview →

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Saving Bears One Trash Can At A Time

🚨 HIGH BEAR ACTIVITY • Lock doors, windows & vehicles • Secure pet/livestock feed • Trash out only on pickup morning • Don't feed bears — accidentally or otherwise. 🐻

For more information on how to secure attractants including garbage and recycling, bird feeders, pet and livestock food, chicken coops, and beehives please see BearWise.

BECOME A VOICE FOR BEARS! HELP US KEEP BEARS AND WILDLIFE WILD:

Because we have the privilege to live in a prime black bear habitat, it is up to us to fundamentally change our behavior towards bears.
Protecting the lives of black bears by working on proactive measures is the most effective way to prevent and reduce negative bear-human conflicts.
Implementing innovative ways and solutions to get the public more engaged will ensure peaceful coexistence with black bears.
Offering free educational “Bear Aware” and “Bear Wise” materials can help our community better understand bear behaviors.
By working alongside with CPW on “Bear Aware” and “Bear Wise” programs, connecting community, and partnering with local municipalities are of key importance to keep humans and our beautiful black bears safe.
By offering retro-fit kits for existing trash cans to deter bears.

Our straps are made with the help of Girl Scouts Troop 15014, Aspen, CO and Boy Scouts of America Aspen Troop 201.

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IF YOU SEE A BEAR…

Stay calm and DO NOT run or play dead.
Speak to the bear in a calm assertive voice.
Slowly back away – make sure you are in safe area and that the bear has an escape route.
It is illegal to harass wildlife and punishable by fine in the State of Colorado. Harassment can include gathering around, pursuing, or trying to take pictures with bears.

THE SAD TRUTH... WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BEARS BECOME TOO COMFORTABLE AROUND HUMANS?

Hazing – using physical discomfort to discourage bears from entering dumpsters, homes, cars, etc.

Relocation – tranquilizing and moving bears to a new habitat hoping they will not return.

Euthanization – Colorado Parks & Wildlife is forced to put down numerous bears yearly.

When a bear(s) gets put down (by CPW or law enforcement) we receive the following questions from the public:

Why don’t they relocate the bear family? Relocation rarely works because bears travel hundreds of miles to get back to their original home range within weeks or end up getting killed by other dominant bears, hunters, or roads. It’s only a feel-good solution for people.

Why don’t they bring them to a Sanctuary? The Colorado Parks and Wildlife created a regulation many years ago that prohibits wild-born animals from being placed in Sanctuaries due to the number of people in CO that would not be responsible about their trash – but would then expect every three-strike bear to not be euthanized and be placed in a sanctuary instead.

AVOID ATTRACTING BEARS

At Home:

Never Feed or Approach Bears
Anything that smells like food attracts bears
Secure & store trash and recyclables in bear-resistant containers until morning of pick-up or in a secure area – Never leave trash outside of a dumpster
Lock your car, garage doors, entrance doors and windows
Remove your bird feeders when bears are active (March through December)
Never Leave Pet Food Outdoors – keep and store wildlife and livestock feed indoors in bear-resistant containers
Secure chicken coops, beehives, and livestock with electric fencing
Clean BBQ grills & grease traps with ammonia, bleach or degreasing agent – Store grills in secure area to keep bears out
Ammonia is a great bear deterrent
Protect your garden: compost pile properly; pick fruit from trees and clean up fallen fruit or donate
Alert your neighbors to bear activity or contact us.

Outdoors:

Keep your dog on a leash. Dogs pressure bears to defend themselves; off-leash dogs are the cause of many negative encounters between people and bears or other wildlife
While jogging or hiking in the woods, use your voice to avoid a surprise encounter, use a bear whistle or carry bear spray, and know how to use it!
Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid using headphones
Keep all bear-accessible windows closed and locked
Lock your vehicle and garage doors – DO NOT LEAVE food or trash inside the car

If bears are rewarded with food at your home, bears will keep coming back!

Fed bears frequently cause property damage and can be unfairly labeled as nuisances and are often killed.

Buy a bear resistant can or retrofit a bear resistant strap to your existing can.

Bear Resistant Containers (BRC’s) need to be compliant with local waste companies.

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