Will Cameron
The Paw Print
In recent weeks it seems that large, hairy predators have taken up residence in our beloved town of Alamosa. While the bears usually appear reserved or skittish, cute and cuddly, this is not always the case.
“2011 Colorado bear attacks” will get plenty of intriguing search results online, although some of them do not hold up. For instance, in the Maroon Bells in August there were three bear “attacks,” but one of them was an assault on an unoccupied tent. It’s hardly fair to call this an attack.
Skip back to August of 2009 in Ouray, Colorado. A bear that had forced its way through a wire fence allegedly attacked a 74-year-old woman, Donna Munson. The Division of Wildlife killed two bears on the property soon afterwards. A necropsy showed that one of the bears had sampled the victim.
But are these incidents common? Not really, in fact you are more likely to get struck by lightning than be mauled by a bear. The National Weather Service puts the odds of being struck by lightning (in an 80 year life) at 1/10,000.
Furthermore, many people are willing to instigate their own demise. It appears Mrs. Munson had been feeding bears for some period of time before she… well, gave them one final treat.
It is important to note that grizzlies are much more notorious man-eaters than black bears (we have black bears in Colorado). Also, a significant number of bear maulings are in zoos and wildlife parks, and involve people making poor decisions.
This time of year bears are looking to put on a few more pounds before hibernation. They may spend more than 20 hours a day looking for food until cold and snow force them into a den. It is essential to have enough nutrients to make it through the winter.
Dr. Timothy Armstrong, Professor of Biology at Adams State indicates that drought and mild weather may increase bear sightings in urban settings.
“Bears have come through here for years because of the corridor provided by the river,” says Armstrong, “They can travel long distances foraging for food.”
Bears are omnivores and as such consume a wide variety of plants and animals.
“I don’t think that most people even think about a birdfeeder being a food source for a bear,” Armstrong continued, pointing out that there is an abundance of food within the city limits.
If bears don’t find enough to eat, they are likely to perish in the den, especially cubs that rely on their mother for milk. Hunger can drive them to look for lunch in unorthodox locations.
When this happens black bears can be put in situations in which they feel threatened, increasing the probability of erratic behavior. It is important to remember that bears are wild creatures (large, strong, toothy ones at that), and will do what is perceived necessary for their survival.
Local wildlife should be enjoyed but not pestered, and with any luck a little cold weather and snow will send them back to the hills for the winter.
What’s Been Said…