Bears are rumbling awake and already spooking people, like the big guy that dashed across an open ski run at Keystone closing weekend.
Wildlife experts say smellables – food, trash, even bird seed – are the biggest reason bears will mingle with humans. Colorado Parks and Wildlife hopes to manage these conflicts with the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community grant.
This year, mountain towns, counties and transit authorities are using close to $1 million in grant money to install hundreds of bear-proof trash cans and food lockers across the High Country.
This summer, Silverthorne and Frisco won nearly $85,000 for bear-proof trashcans.
The White River National Forest, including our local Dillon Ranger District, won $193,000 for food lockers at more than a dozen campgrounds.
Just last week Eagle County open space and CORE Transit installed nearly 39 locking trashcans at bus stops from Vail to Gypsum.
“Human-bear conflict measures cannot be successful without collaboration between local communities, wildlife managers and individuals,” CPW Grant Manager Travis Long said in a statement. “Fortunately, CPW has seen success with this grant program with many communities taking advantage of the opportunities this funding provided and implementing projects to help reduce conflicts with bears.”
Since 2022, CPW has awarded $2.9 million statewide. Towns and counties are applying now for this year’s grant.