Don't invite the bears over this spring

  • Published
  • By Brian Mihlbachler
  • Academy Natural Resources office
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Academy families living in base housing may be used to seeing wildlife on the installation but due to the warmer weather, they might want to keep an eye out for Black Bears, as these rather noticeable omnivores will soon emerge from hibernation and begin searching for food.

Black Bears normally feed on vegetation, berries, insects, carrion, and small mammals but the Academy's housing area can provide a ready feast of garbage, pet food and bird seed. If bears found food in the trash containers near your home or office last year, there's a strong possibility they'll make a return trip to your home this spring.

Bears used to human-provided food can lose their wariness around people, creating a greater chance for conflict and dangerous encounters.

If you live in base housing but don't use a bear-resistant dumpster, you're required to secure your trash in a garage until trash collection day.

Garbage is a particularly bad source of food for bears and other wildlife as it often contains medicines, chemicals, plastics, poisons and other items that could kill or injure an animal.

To avoid attracting bears, remove bird feeders or bringing them inside at night, keep pet food indoors and clean your barbeque grill and store them indoors, and close and properly latch the doors on your bear-resistant dumpster or receptacle.

All wildlife is unpredictable and should be considered potentially dangerous, but by taking the proper precautions, you can safely enjoy the wildlife-viewing opportunities living and working on the Academy provides.

Report any immediate bear problems to the 10th Security Forces Squadron, 333-2000. Bear sightings or concerns can be reported to Natural Resources, 333-3308 or via email at 10 CES/CECN (Bear Watch).

If your trash container needs to be repaired or replaced, call Forest City maintenance, 867-9675 or the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron, 333-3053.

Visit cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/LivingwithWildlife.aspx for more information.