Colorado: Hungry bears spur warnings for campers, hikers

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Hungry bears preparting for hibernation present a potential risk to campers in Colorado.

Recent Aspen-area maulings underscore seriousness of warnings

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — State and federal resource managers are making a late-summer push to minimize potentially dangerous encounters between people and bears by focusing on education and outreach.

“National Forests are bear country,” White River National Forest officials said in a press relase. “It’s their home and we are the visitors. Whether camping or hiking on a National Forest, in the front country or in the back country; if you are doing it on National Forest System lands, you are in bear country and need to be prepared to share the forest with the bears.”

Local information for Summit County will be offered Sept. 8 during a Bear Aware session at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge at 6:30 p.m. (more…)

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Colorado: Camper mauled by bear near Aspen

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

The U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have reported an upswing in human-bear encounters in the past few weeks.

Attack in wilderness area requires rescue response; injured camper may need surgery

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A 20-year-old camper in the Minnehaha Gulch area of the Maroon Bells –Snowmass Wilderness Area was seriously injured by a bear early Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The camper was evacuated by Aspen Mountain Rescue and hospitalized. He is expected to require surgery.

The Forest Service said the exact nature of the attack is unknown at this time, but that the camper, along with his companions, had stored their food safely. Officials suspect that an empty food container may have been left in the tent and attracted the bear.

The injury was the second incident in the past 24 hours in the same general area. At 5:30 a.m. Friday, a black bear entered a campsite near Crater Lake, damaging a tent and making contact with a camper, who later reported minor injuries to the Forest Service. (more…)

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Colorado: Bike-race campers warned of bear encounters

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Some race fans camping along the route of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be in the heart of bear habitat, and state wildlife managers are trying to educate campers about how to avoid and unwated encounter. PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL SERAPHIN/COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE.

Unwanted confrontations can be avoided by locking up food and keeping a clean camp

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s bears are trying to fatten themselves up for the winter just as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is set to wind through the state’s mountains, and with thousands of cycling fans from around the country expected to camp along the route, state wildlife managers say they concerned about the potential for unwanted human-bear encounters.

The cautions come just after a bear entered and damaged two tents in the Difficult Campground near Aspen. Due to the increasing number of incidents involving bears in this campground during the past few weeks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U. S. Forest Service mutually agreed to restrict the site to hard-sided camping only.

“We decided to err on the side of caution and protect human health and safety,” said Perry Will, a state wildlife manager. “Based on the bear situation in this campground, we don’t think camping in a tent is safe.”

According to the Difficult Campground host, the site is fully booked next Monday and Tuesday night as cycling fans had planned to camp overnight and watch the race as it passes over Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass into Aspen on Wednesday, Aug. 24. It is likely the restrictions will remain in place as the race progresses through the area and fans are advised to make other arrangements if they were planning to sleep in tents. (more…)

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Colorado: Bear killed after biting camper near Leadville

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A Colorado black bear. PHOTO COURTESY COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE.

Wildlife officials say the early morning attack was unprovoked

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado Division of Wildlife officers killed a bear today (July 15) near Leadville after the animal injured a teenager in what is thought to be an unprovoked attack.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said the attack happened at about 3:30 a.m. Friday morning when the teen woke up as a black bear bit into his leg.

The victim fought off the bear and other campers scared the bear out of the area. Hundreds of campers are in the Twin Lakes area for the Colorado Bowhunters Association annual Jamboree. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State Parks, Environment, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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