For all the destruction that Front Range wildfires have wreaked on people and their homes, officials are also warning that burned-out natural habitat will cause problems for a local bear population already stressed by a long dry spell and poor foraging.
The upshot: During fire season, more hungry bears than usual will be sniffing around residential neighborhoods and dumpsters containing food spoiled by fire-induced power outages.
And as any wildlife expert will tell you, a garbage bear too often becomes a dead bear — shot or euthanized as a safety measure because it has grown too bold.
“This year we’re asking people to be extraordinarily careful about what they leave out,” said Theo Stein, manager of external relations for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “That includes dog food, bird feeders and greasy grills. In the aftermath of the fires, if we don’t get moisture for a green-up, we’re going to see a lot of hungry bears.”
Wildlife officials are strongly cautioning homeowners associations and salvage operations that are hauling in large waste bins. Such containers should have lock bars and be hauled away each night.
“Bears can travel long distances to find food and will use any source they find,” said Linda Masterson, who lives north of Fort Collins and authored “Living With Bears.” “I’m just concerned they won’t have quality foods available.”
Masterson, who lost her home in the 2011 Crystal fire, said she worries that the scope of the 136-square-mile High Park fire near her home will drive bears to a habitat that is already above its carrying capacity.
Stein said some fire-related bear deaths have been reported from the field, but it’s “not a high loss.” Like elk and deer, bears tend to stay ahead of the flames, although that can be hard for cubs.
It was already a tough 12 months for the creatures.
A Front Range dry spell that began in June 2011 was only sporadically relieved by rain and snow. That led to a poor mast crop, the diet of acorns and berries bears largely live on.
Front Range bears were undernourished when they entered their winter dens, and did not fare much better upon emerging in the spring.
“But it’s still a very robust bear population,” Stein said.
A bear’s very makeup is an asset in the wild but poses problems for the creature when it enters human habitat — an increasingly common occurrence in the wildfire’s wake.
“Bears have a tremendous nose, they’re very intelligent and have great memories, and they apply that knowledge,” Stein said. “A bear never forgets where it had a meal.
“And they have an instinctive desire to put on weight.”
While the state doesn’t keep tabs on bruins like it does deer and elk, he said, there are likely 16,000 to 18,000 bears in Colorado.
Large bear populations also inhabit the El Paso County area, home to Colorado Springs and the 16,750-acre Waldo Canyon fire, and points south. It is scrub oak country, which produces nutrient-rich acorns that bears thrive on.
William Porter: 303-954-1877 or wporter@denverpost.com
Bear advice
Some advice for keeping bears away from your home:
• Don’t leave food in your vehicle. Bears have ultra-sensitive noses.
• Don’t leave a vehicle’s window cracked. Bears can pry out the windows.
• Be cautious about leaving pets outside, especially dogs.
• Scrub down barbecue grills. Grease attracts bears.
• If you live in a bear area, lock your garbage bins.
• Consider putting out bird feed and suet only during hibernation season.
• More information on keeping bears away from your home can be found at wildlife.state.co.us.
