Bear reports down in Colorado this year as drought conditions ease around state

The fig of reported carnivore sightings and interactions are down passim astir of Colorado arsenic the authorities mostly emerges from drought conditions, and that’s a promising development, according to wildlife officials.

Currently, astir of eastern Colorado is drought free aft a comparatively bedewed outpouring and summer, according to information from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought conditions person improved precocious successful three-quarters of the state, compared to drier years successful 2019 and 2020, with the exception, for the astir part, of northwest Colorado wherever the utmost country of the authorities is successful “exceptional drought” and astir different areas successful the portion are successful “extreme drought,” the 2 worst categories.

Less drought astir overmuch of Colorado this year, however, is apt contributing to a alteration successful reported carnivore sightings and interactions successful astir areas, said Jason Clay, a Colorado Park and Wildlife spokesperson for the northeast region.

“Three of the 4 regions of the authorities person seen a alteration successful carnivore reports” truthful acold this twelvemonth compared to 2020 and 2019, Clay said. “The northwest is the lone country this twelvemonth with an increase.”

The CPW divides the authorities into 4 regions: northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest.

Less terrible drought conditions means that bears are much apt to forage for earthy nutrient —  including roots, berries, insects, grass, succulent plants and larvae — successful the backmost state arsenic healthy, moisture driven conditions thrive. In drought conditions, bears are often forced into towns and populated areas looking for meals from humans, dumpster diving and breaking into homes and vehicles. In the spring, a 39-year-old La Plata County pistillate was killed by a bear erstwhile she was walking her dogs.

Total carnivore reports received by the CPW from January done August 10 successful 2019 was 3,173, according to data. In 2020 the fig was 3,034 and this twelvemonth 2,426. The numbers successful the northeast portion implicit the aforesaid clip frames respectively are 735, 722 and 495. The 2021 fig for the northeast portion is astir a 20% alteration from the 2 erstwhile years.

Maps showing drought levels crossed #Colorado successful August 2020 vs. August 2021.

Total carnivore reports received statewide, Jan. 1-Aug. 10 (NE Region):
2019: 3,173 (735)
2020: 3,034 (722)
2021: 2,426 (495) ~ 20% alteration for the region

Possible correlation: More 🌧️ = much 🍓 for bears pic.twitter.com/k3ZWyJPFKl

— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) August 12, 2021

“Drought is conscionable 1 origin that tin impact nutrient availability” on with precocious freezes, oregon flooding similar successful 2013, being others, Clay said. “Just due to the fact that bears person abundant earthy nutrient sources does not mean that they won’t instrumentality vantage of opportunities similar unsecured garbage.”

Colorado residents should proceed to instrumentality precautions, including securing garbage, not leaving nutrient outside, and keeping vehicles and residential downstairs windows closed and doors locked erstwhile not astatine location oregon not driving. Bird feeders, favored nutrient banal and provender for different chaotic animals tin pull bears.

The alteration successful carnivore reports truthful acold this twelvemonth are encouraging for some the bears and humans, demonstrating little conflict, and anecdotally, little wounded and destruction. The engaged play for bears, known arsenic hyperphagia, erstwhile they spell connected an eating and drinking binge to fatten up for wintertime hibernation, is conscionable underway.

Combining the full carnivore reports from each of 2019 and 2020, 44% of the implicit 10,000 reports came from the months of August, September and October, according to CPW data.

“We don’t privation carnivore conflicts,” Clay said. “It’s been a bully earthy nutrient twelvemonth for the bears, with the northwest perchance being the exception. We’ll spot however the autumn goes.”