Fire by bear? You've heard of fire danger. You've heard of being "bear aware" because we live in the rural West, and because the animals are super hungry. Well, here's a doozy of a combo, from our friends with the Mt. Crested Butte police and fire departments.
They report that on Aug. 19, a bear broke into a home, sending the residents fleeing to their bedroom while the animal trashed the house — and knocked a wooden dish rack onto the stove, which, somehow, got turned on during the ruckus. Imagine being those folks, sheltering behind what probably felt like a pretty flimsy door in the moment, while some food-crazed bear ransacked the house, started a fire, and then came clawing a scratching at that same bedroom door. Then imagine being the first who responded and found a bear trying to bash out the front window while smoke and flames billowed behind it. That’s how the authorities in Mt. Crested Butte described the ordeal. The residents were unharmed; the fire department took care of the smoke, and, we hope, homeowners insurance will make the residents whole. (Imagine explaining it to the adjustor, though.)
The bear, of course, is dead. It was put down due to its aggressive behavior and clear habituation to human food sources. Worth noting: officials did not find anything on the property that would have objectively attracted a bear there - no trash, food, etc. outside or in vehicles. The incident in Mt. Crested Butte is just one of several this summer: Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports six out-and-out bear attacks, amid more than 6,000 human-bear encounters/sightings, almost twice as many as were reported last year. Last Friday, a bear attacked a man who was walking a trail after fishing the South Platte River in Jefferson County, biting his legs. According to reports, the presence of other people nearby, who saw what happened, did not deter the animal. On Aug. 17, a bear swiped a man in Eagle-Vail in his arm as he left the laundry area of his apartment complex. On the 18th, a Steamboat Springs woman got slashed in the face by the bear she attempted to chase out of her home. On the 19th, in Aspen, a bear bit a man in the head as he slept in a park. We’ve reported before and probably will again that the drought is driving bears down from where they usually stay, and into developed areas. They are laying up their fat stores for winter, and because of extreme drought, they are not finding as much natural forage. A bear needs to chomp down on about 20,000 calories per day as it prepares for hibernation. Like you, it will seek out the easiest source of food.
Think of it like this: You could hunt, kill, field dress, and cook your meat; grow your own grain, harvest it, grind it into flour and make bread … or you can swing by McDonald’s, because someone else has already done the above, through an industry that distributes the fruits of their labors widely. Your trash, bird feeders, pet food, greasy barbecue grill, that bag of snacks you left in your car — that’s McDonald’s to a bear. It’s just that the cost is a bit higher than a Value Meal: For you, it’s anything from an elevated heart rate when you see the thing rooting around, to property damage, to injury, to, in the worst-case scenario, death. For the bear? Almost always death. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has few options for bears that keep returning to places of human habitation and none at all when someone is injured, no matter whose “fault” it is. So, once more, with feeling: Be bear aware. It isn’t just a slogan. It can keep you — and the bears that are part of the ecosystem that makes Colorado as special as it is — safe. From CPW:
Six At-Home BearWise Basics
- Never Feed or Approach Bears - Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Bears will defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs!
- Secure Food, Garbage and Recycling - Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available food, liquids or garbage.
- Remove Bird Feeders When Bears Are Active - Birdseed and grains have lots of calories, so they’re very attractive to bears. Removing feeders is the best way to avoid creating conflicts with bears.
- Never Leave Pet Food Outdoors - Feed pets indoors when possible. If you must feed pets outside, feed in single portions and remove food and bowls after feeding. Store pet food where bears can’t see or smell it.
- Clean & Store Grills - Clean grills after each use and make sure that all grease, fat and food particles are removed. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out.
- Alert Neighbors to Bear Activity - See bears in the area or evidence of bear activity? Tell your neighbors and share information on how to prevent conflicts with bears. Bears have adapted to living near people; now it’s up to us to adapt to living near bears.
Six Outdoor BearWise Basics
- Stay Alert & Stay Together - Pay attention to your surroundings and stay together. Walk, hike, jog, or cycle with others when possible. Keep kids within sight and close by. Leave earbuds at home and make noise periodically so bears can avoid you.
- Leave No Trash or Food Scraps - Double bag your food when hiking and pack out all food and trash. Don’t burn food scraps or trash in your fire ring or grill. Leaving scraps, wrappers, or even “harmless” items like apple cores teaches bears to associate trails and campsites with food.
- Keep Dogs Leashed - Letting dogs chase or bark at bears is asking for trouble; don’t force a bear to defend itself. Keep your dogs leashed at all times or leave them at home.
- Camp Safely - Set up camp away from dense cover and natural food sources. Cook as far from your tent as possible. Do not store food, trash, clothes worn when cooking, or toiletries in your tent. Store in approved bear-resistant containers OR out of sight in locked vehicle OR suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet from any part of the tree. Local regulations vary.
- Know What To Do If You See a Black Bear - If you see a bear before it notices you, don’t approach. Stand still, enjoy, then quietly move away. If a bear sees you, back away slowly. Never run; running may trigger a chase response. If a bear approaches, hold your ground, wave your arms and yell “Hey Bear” until it leaves. Stay with your group. If it keeps approaching, use bear spray. If a black bear makes contact with you, do NOT play dead; fight back aggressively.
- Carry Bear Spray & Know How To Use It - Bear spray is proven to be the easiest and most effective way to deter a bear that threatens you. It doesn’t work like bug repellent, so never spray your tent, campsite or belongings.
This year is on pace to be a record year for bear reports in Colorado since 2019. CPW rolled out a statewide digital reporting system in 2019 to report bear-related incidents in the state.
— Katharhynn, from the Newsroom.
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