A New Colorado Bear Law Has Residents Divided

Western Colorado is home to several communities that occasionally spot black bears in residential areas. In places like Glenwood Springs, Durango, Collbran, and Cedaredge, bears are increasingly drawn to communities by easy food sources like trash, pet food, and bird feeders.

Did you know Colorado recently passed a new law that allows wildlife officers to crack down on people who knowingly attract bears? Here’s a look at what you should know if you live near a community known for even occasional bear sightings.

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What Colorado’s New Bear Law Actually Changes

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Colorado law, House Bill 26-1342, is known as the “luring bears bill”. This law shifts its focus from someone trying to attract bears to proving that someone knowingly allowed bear attractants to remain accessible. The law allows Parks and Wildlife the authority to issue citations for unsecured trash, food waste, bird feeders, and other things that attract bears to neighborhoods. Lawmakers say the bill aims to reduce bear conflicts before they happen.

Why Residents Are Divided Over the New Rules

Coloradans who support stricter enforcement say the enforcement protects people, pets, and bears by cutting off food sources that can lead to property damage or euthanized bears. Critics of the new bill believe that bears are part of life in the Rockies, and they think the law causes confusion about what exactly qualifies as “knowingly” attracting wildlife.

How Homeowners Can Reduce Bear Encounters

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As the summer months arrive, Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends residents store trash securely, take down bird feeders when bears are active (potentially all year), keep outdoor grills clean, store pet food indoors, and use bear-resistant containers when possible. It’s not unreasonable to have concerns. Who gets to decide if your grill is “cleaned” properly, or if you purchased the right kind of bear-resistant container?