Bears, fat and lean
If you love the outdoors — or even just a quirky contest — you've probably heard that the chonkiest bear of all has been crowned (figuratively, of course) in the annual Katmai National Park "Fat Bear Week" contest. Two-year-old Bear 89, also known as Backpack, was selected with more than 100,000 votes. He is a strapping lad, at an estimated 1,200 pounds. You can find out more about Fat Bear Week here.
In the meantime, spare some thought for our bears here in Colorado. All summer long, the stories have come in: hungry bears, doing what bears do, as they search for food to see them through hibernation, have repeatedly come into conflict with the landscape's human dwellers.
Spring freezes, then drought, really hammered their natural food supply, and they went on the prowl for anything they could find. Unfortunately, some found trash that impacted their intestines and killed them, while others were killed because of the nature of their conflict with people. Right now, wildlife managers and rescuers appear to be dealing with a glut of orphaned bear cubs — far more than in previous years, it is reported.
We can't do much to end drought or control freezes — much like a bear cannot help but wander to whatever food source its nose directs it to. But we can still do our part. Take down bird feeders; store pet food indoors; mind any fruit trees still yielding fruit, and clear up fallen fruit; be responsible with your trash and don't put it out before collection day if you live in areas more prone to bear encounters, like Ouray. Keep in mind, too, that bears have also roamed through areas of Montrose in the past. Check out this link for more "bear aware" tips. We'd like to see fat bears in Colorado, too. — Katharhynn, from the Newsroom
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