In the Boulder foothills, bears follow the trash

If you live or stay where Boulder County meets the foothills, black bears are neighbors, not a rare sight. They move down into yards and neighborhoods following one thing above all: food smells.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is clear that trash is the number-one source of conflict between people and bears. A bear has a powerful nose and will return again and again to an easy meal, whether that is a garbage can, bird seed, pet food left outside, a fruit tree, or a grill. The trouble is that a bear which learns to find food around homes can become bold and destructive, and a bear that becomes a safety risk often has to be put down. Keeping food smells locked away is as much for the bear as for you.

The fixes are ordinary habits. Keep trash secured and indoors, or in a bear-resistant container, until the morning of pickup. Take down bird feeders in bear season, clean grills, and do not leave pet food out. Keep dogs leashed on foothills trails, since a loose dog can surprise a bear and lead it back to you.

Bear activity rises and falls through the year, especially in fall as bears feed heavily before winter. For current guidance and local alerts, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Living with Bears information.