Bear Season Begins In Boulder: What You Need To Know

BOULDER, CO -- Springtime is here, and with it come flowers, Saturday morning farmers markets, sunny evenings, and local bears waking up from hibernation. According to a news release from the City of Boulder, the first bear of 2019 was spotted in the northeastern part of the city in early March.

City staff is encouraging community members to be vigilant and ensure trash containers are locked and secured as required by the city ordinance. Bears can come into town looking for food, and if they find it, they are more likely to stay put putting them at risk of being hit by vehicles, being electrocuted on power poles, ingesting chemicals, or losing their natural fear of people, which may get them killed by wildlife officers to protect public safety.

Last fall, Boulder's elementary schools went through a series of days on lockout, when students are not allowed to leave the building, due to significant bear activity that even extended across the historical boundary of Broadway.

The city requires bear-resistant trash and compost containers in neighborhoods west of Broadway and south of Sumac Avenue, and everywhere in the city if trash and compost are put out the night before pickup. Containers must be in working condition, and Western Disposal customers may call 303-444-2037 and request a replacement cart if their container is broken; carts are generally replaced within 24 hours. If you are a One-Way Trash or Republic customer and you have purchased your cart, the city release notes that you are responsible for the repairs or replacement.

Considering the increased bear activity reported east of Broadway in recent years, particularly north of Alpine Avenue and west of 30th street, the city encourages all community members to use bear-resistant containers, and anyone may contact their waste hauler for a bear-resistant cart.

Community members should also be aware that livestock can attract bears. In the past two years, there has been an increase in the number of goats preyed upon by bears. Be sure to keep goats, chickens and bees in secure, safe locations.

To learn more, visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/wildlife