The bear deal

My comment exchange with Susie on my last post brought to mind a magazine ad which I saw last week, probably in Real Simple. It's a full page color ad for some homeowner's insurance company which depicts a bear standing in someone's kitchen. The general point of the ad is that as totally unlikely as this scenario may be, this insurance company will protect you should this happen.

The point that struck me was that bears in kitchens is a daily occurrence this time of year here in Aspen. The photo seemed run of the mill to me . . .

Aspen Daily News staff report

Wed 08/22/2007 11:01AM MST

As summer shifts into fall, local black bears are ramping up their food intake by thousands of calories to fatten up for winter hibernation. Many bears are finding those extra calories in the unsecured garbage or unlocked houses of Aspen and Pitkin County.

But rather than follow the local bear "problem" with relentless articles detailing the latest bear antics, relocations or euthanasias, the Aspen Daily News is launching "The Bear Deal." Every Wednesday, this piece will provide a weekly by-the-numbers look at our local bear troubles.

In recognition of the bear problem, both the city of Aspen and Pitkin County are taking emergency steps to institute stiffer fines and stronger enforcement of local trash containment laws. The county will vote on an emergency ordinance at their regular meeting at noon today. City staff is currently looking into drafting such an ordinance.

Bear calls during the week of Aug. 14-20 (Tuesday through Monday):
Aspen: 75
Snowmass Village: 3
Pitkin County: 30

Colorado Division of Wildlife activities in Pitkin County:

Total number of bears relocated from Pitkin County: 9
Total number of Pitkin County bears killed by DOW: 7

And here's the text of an email I received from one of my neighbors on 8/16:

I got a call today from Txxxx Kxxxxxx (he manages Hunter Longhouse). He said that the DOW was there a few days ago to remove a bear that walked into someone’s apartment. The guy was home and had the door open so in came the bear. The DOW saw the latches on our dumpster enclosure and suggested they be changed. Txxxx has volunteered to change them out. He also said to LOCK your doors and windows, the bears are aggressive right now. They have been breaking through windows and tearing down doors. Let’s keep an eye out for each other’s places in case you see a bear inviting himself inside one of our homes.

Photo Credit