Teller County bear euthanization prompts Park and Wildlife’s newest call to stay ‘Bear Aware’
TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials euthanized a bear last week after it entered an unlocked Teller County home in search of food.
Officials are saying this is another important reminder for Coloradans to stay "Bear Aware."
"The landscape this year, because of a mild snowpack, somewhat of a dry spring, and then actually the freeze, that's raised a lot of our concern that some of those natural food sources aren't going to be out there and available for them this year," said Travis Sauder, Assistant Area Wildlife Manager for Teller and El Paso County.
This is the eighth bear euthanization in the Pikes Peak Region this year, and according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, incidents of human-bear conflict are likely to grow due to scarce food conditions.
"While it's always important to be very aware and to be thinking about these things, this year, we really need people to be extra vigilant and to go an extra step to protect the bears because they are going to be very vulnerable on a year like this.
Because of the anticipated lack of food, Parks and Wildlife is pushing Coloradans to lock their doors and windows, stop feeding pets outside, and not hang up hummingbird feeders that could attract the bear population.
