Two bears were trapped recently in different areas outside Dolores.
The first bear was trapped near Dunton on Tuesday, said Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer Dave Harper.
The bear had wandered into a barn at the Dunton Hot Springs resort and had broken into some freezers, Harper said.
Once a bear breaks into a freezer like that, they pose a threat and could start entering homes. Harper said the bear was trapped and relocated near Paradox.
He was a really, really old bear, Harper said.
The bear was probably about 20 years old, he said.
It was his first strike so we tagged him and hauled him away, Harper said.
Another bear was trapped Friday near Summit Lake.
The bear was breaking into chicken coops and eating chickens, Harper said.
He cleaned out two chicken coops and was working on a third, Harper said.
So far, Harper said, it has been a mild year as far as bear complaints, but said he typically sees activity increase when the weather gets a bit colder and fruit trees begin producing.
Because they are large omnivores, bears are nearly always on a search for food. Wild foods are essential for bears berries, insects, acorns, forbs, other plants and carrion. But when people fail to store garbage, pet food or bird feeders properly, bears will find those sources and cause conflicts in residential and business areas.
Dolores does not have ordinances regarding trash storage that apply to wildlife. Here are some rules you can abide by to avoid conflicts with bears:
Keep garbage in a secure building or a bear-resistant garbage container.
If you dont have a place to store garbage, ask the trash company for a bear-resistant container or order one. Many suppliers advertise containers on the Internet.
Place smelly food scraps in the freezer until garbage day.
Rinse out all cans, bottles and jars so that they are free of food and odors before putting them out for recycling or pick-up.
Put out garbage cans only on the morning of pick-up. Do not put out garbage the night before.
Wash garbage cans regularly with ammonia to eliminate food odors.
Dont leave pet food or pet dishes outside.
Take down the bird feeders. Bird feeders are a major cause of wildlife conflicts. Besides bears, feeders may also attract small mammals, deer and mountain lions. Birds do not need to be fed during the summer. As an alternative to feeders, attract birds naturally by hanging flower baskets, putting out a bird bath or planting a variety of flowers. Use bird feeders only from November until the end of March when bears are hibernating.
Pick ripe fruit from trees and off the ground.
Clean outdoor grills after each use; the smell of grease can attract bears.
Never intentionally feed bears.
Close and lock lower floor windows and doors of your house, including garages.
Clean up thoroughly after outdoor parties.
If you have chickens or other small farm animals, make sure they are in a secure enclosure at night.
Dont leave food in your car. Lock car doors. Bears are smart, and many have learned to open car doors.
When camping, store food and garbage inside a locked vehicle. Keep the campsite clean. Dont eat in the tent. In the backcountry, hang your food at least 10 feet high and 10 feet away from anything a bear can climb.
Bears are not naturally aggressive toward people and prefer to avoid contact. If you see a bear in your neighborhood, make it feel unwelcome. Yell at it, throw sticks and rocks at it. Never approach a bear.
