'Bear' essentials: lock up food before winter -- natural resources mgr.

Published Sept. 27, 2013
By Brian Mihlbachler
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Natural Resources Manager

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- It's that time of year when black bears near the Academy prepare to hibernate by foraging around the clock, consuming up to 20,000 calories a day.

Using their keen sense of smell and memory, bears easily find food before they hibernate and will regularly return to the same area in the spring unless the food source is eliminated.

Bears commonly return for their first post-hibernation meal in the spring to the same spots where they previously found food. To help keep bears away, keep the doors to your bear-proof Dumpster or receptacles closed and latched.

Academy housing residents who do not have a bear-proof trash receptacle should secure their trash in a garage until trash collection day.

Now is also the time to remove -- or at least bring in at night -- items that attract bears such as bird feeders, pet food and barbecue grills.

If you live in the Pine Valley or Douglass Valley housing area and your bear-proof trash container needs repair, call Forest City maintenance at 867-9675. If you don't live in base housing, call 333-3053.

Finally, if you have an immediate bear problem or threat, call the 10th Security Forces Squadron at 333-2000.

To report a bear sighting, call Natural Resources at 333-3308 or email bear.watch@usafa.af.mil. For more information, visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website at wildlife.state.co.us.