Black bear management – your input needed

It’s that time of year, when black bears are becoming more active in our neck of the woods. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants your input as they update the Middle Park Black Bear Management Plan in northwest Colorado. This Bear Data Analysis Unit, B-16, encompasses all of Grand and Summit Counties, and portions of southern Routt County.

CPW is hosting two open houses this week, one in Summit County at the Silverthorne North Branch Library, and one in Grand County. You can learn about trends in our area and provide feedback on the black bear population, issues and conflicts with bears, and management strategies.

“At this point we are in the drafting process and want to hear from the public about the bear population, concerns, and management in B-16 over the next 10 years,” said Elissa Slezak, CPW Wildlife Biologist.

If you want to go, the Summit County meeting is this Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the North Branch Library, 651 Center Circle in Silverthorne. The Granby meeting will be held at the Town Hall at Zero W Jasper Avenue on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

The CPW reminds us that public feedback is very important at this stage of the planning process.