Lawmakers from Steamboat Springs and Durango want to crack down on irresponsible humans who get bears in trouble with trash.
State Rep. Meghan Luhkens, of Steamboat, and co-sponsor Katie Stewart, of Durango, have introduced House Bill 1342, known as the “Negligently Luring Bears” law. It would change the definition of luring a bear and make it easier for law enforcement to write tickets for repeat offenders.
As it is today, the law goes easy on folks who carelessly store trash in areas where bears are active. A warning is the worst penalty for first offenders. Under the new law, you could be fined for a first offense. Additional offenses will earn you a ticket for criminal negligence and up to $5,000 in fines.
Supporters of the bill say human-bear conflicts are getting worse in Colorado, and most of them begin with trash. Last year alone bear encounters escalated by 15% statewide. More than half involved trash, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Bears are hungry critters with huge appetites, and trash, say the experts, is a reliable source of calories.
Unfortunately, bears are almost always on the losing end when they go trash hunting. Many are tranquilized and removed. Others that keep coming back are euthanized.
HB-1342 was introduced March 27 and will soon be reviewed by the State House committee for Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources.