The Crestone Eagle, September 2007:

Bears are back—and so are reports of bear damage
by Mary Lowers

Attention visitors and residents; bear sightings and break-ins are on the increase. Black bear have been observed over the last month in Crestone and the Baca. Baca resident Steve Anderson reported to the Eagle a dramatic night-time bear break-in over the weekend of Aug. 11 and 12, on the Spiritual Center Rd. north of Shumei International. Steve said he and a companion, going for a hike on Saturday, saw the vehicle he thought was a “new Honda Element.” Returning for another hike on Sunday, Steve saw the same car with “muddy bear prints all over it and the doors completely pried back and forced open. There was stuff scattered about, plus food bags like chips and cookies torn open in a way humans never would employ. Mountain bikes on a rack mounted to the back of the car were untouched.”

Valley wildlife officials speculate that an early freeze in the high country sent the bears down to lower elevations, cranky and hungry. A mother bear at the Great Sand Dunes Park is reported to be scavenging in one of the campgrounds. Art Hutchinson, on the staff at the park, reminds visitors “not to leave food in their cars or campsites and never to feed wildlife.” Bears are our neighbors and it’s important that we take precautions to avoid them becoming nuisance bears.

Steve, who has lived for years among bear populations here and in Alaska, has some good suggestions to avoid bear problems. “Plan food-less activities. If you take food, there are bear-rated storage containers available at outdoor stores. It’s better to leave food secured outside your car than to have a bear tear your vehicle apart to get some chips!”

If you are only here part-time, or leave for a weekend, make sure all windows and doors are shut and secured. Bears have torn off French doors and thrown them into the yard to gain access to a well-stocked pantry. Take food with you when you leave. Cover windows that have a view of food or a refrigerator; many bears know that kitchens and ‘fridges mean food.

Black bear will only rarely attack a human or pet. Barking dogs, bells in trees near your structures, moth balls near windows and doors, and even balloons filled with cayenne pepper-spiked honey have been found to be good bear deterrents. If a bear has a bad experience, he is unlikely to return to the same place again. Securing your home and car and taking simple precautions can prevent an unfortunate encounter with our local bear population.

Saguache County Sheriff Mike Norris says, “We have had numerous bear problems throughout the County and several in the Baca. It is the time of year when bears are feeding heavily to prepare for hibernation. Please don’t put out your garbage until pick up day, and, if at all possible, don’t have dog or cat food outside. This will attract the bears and I know that they would rather eat steak than baloney!

The Colorado Division of Wildlife plans to begin stricter enforcement of regulations that require removal of materials that attract bears from properties. A property owner or resident who leaves bear attractants on a property can be ticketed. Fines start at $68, but subsequent fines may be much higher. If you have bear problems call the Sheriff’s Office at 719-655-2544 or the Division of Wildlife at 719-852-4783.”

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