Lockdown mode

You may have already noticed, but bear activity in town is heating up. According to the City of Durango, the “significant uptick” is driven, in part, by a poor acorn crop due to dry conditions. It’s a familiar yet sad scenario where the lack of natural food pushes bears into town in search of a quick and easy meal.

City officials have confirmed bear sightings and incidents in multiple neighborhoods, including near Manna Soup Kitchen, Riverhouse Children’s Center on Florida Road, and Three Springs. In response, the city has intensified its efforts to reduce bear-human conflicts by replacing broken or ineffective trash containers and deploying temporary dumpsters where needed.  The city is also working closely with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to trap and relocate problem bears when necessary.

As for the rest of us, we’re asked to do our part, too, as bears that become too habituated to human food often need to be relocated or put down. City ordinance requires trash containers to be put out for collection no earlier than 6 a.m. the day of collection and removed no later than 8 p.m. the same day. Likewise, residents are asked to clean outdoor grills after each use, keep trash in garages, remove bird feeders and lock car doors, as bears are known to break into vehicles in search of tasty treats as miniscule as a pack of mints.

Any residents who allow bears to get into non-bear resistant containers will be required to upgrade to a wildlife-resistant model, with a $100 fee assessed at the time of delivery. If they already have a bear-resistant can that is found to be malfunctioning, it will be repaired or replaced at no cost to the resident. However, if the can is in working order and was overfilled or improperly secured, you may be sacked with a citation and/or fine.

Bear activity within city limits is typically highest in the late summer and early fall as bears go on their annual feeding frenzy ahead of hibernation. In 2024, La Plata County had the second-highest number of bear sightings in the state, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The state wildlife office has confirmed that there are currently no plans to euthanize bears within city limits.