Austin Pivarnik/Courtesy
Bears coming out of hibernation were spotted along Fish Creek Falls Road in March. There have been several bear sightings in the area recently.
Bears waking from slumber in Routt County
Spring without a freeze could cut down on bear-human problems
Friday, April 1, 2011
Related stories
June 9, 2010: Bear sneaks into Steamboat home
March 26, 2010: Mild weather brings out bears in Steamboat
Steamboat Springs — With temperatures expected to reach 60 degrees in Steamboat Springs on Saturday, spring is starting to show, and bears are waking up from winter hibernation to smell it.
There already have been several sightings of hungry bears in the area, including one bear photographed March 21 while crossing Steamboat Boulevard.
“They’re going to be getting into anything they can,” said Jim Haskins, Colorado Division of Wildlife area wildlife manager. “Another season is about to begin, so we need people to be careful.”
Bear sightings and encounters with humans in Steamboat are not unusual, Haskins said, but how big of a problem they create often can be tied to spring weather.
“If we have a good spring and don’t get a freeze, we’ll be OK,” Haskins said.
A late freeze could kill the berry crops that bears seek out as a natural food source.
“There are always a few bears that are town bears that are always a nuisance in town,” Haskins said. “Where you have a real serious problem is when you have a food shortage.”
Last year’s berry crop was plentiful, which Haskins said helped curb bear-related issues in the city. There were, though, some memorable bear stories from 2010.
There was the bear in May that broke through a screened window into Sandie Ihlenfeldt’s home on Mark Twain Lane and ate her freshly baked brownies. The bear also ate honey from a bear-shaped bottle and got into a bag of powdered sugar, leaving white paw prints in the house.
There also was the year-old bear cub in the Dakota Ridge subdivision that had presumably been abandoned. Haskins said the cub was kind of a clown.
“Every couple weeks it could get into a little bit of trouble but not to the point where we needed to destroy the bear,” he said.
In June, this bear had learned to operate door handles and was especially fond of the home owned by Mike and Arlene Zopf, who didn’t think to lock their doors to ward off bears. The bear got into the Zopfs’ cupboards and ate oatmeal and apples. What made this bear most famous was the photo Mike Zopf took of the cub trying to open a window with its paws while standing upright on a deck railing.
“He was young, hungry and confused,” Mike Zopf said Thursday.
DOW trapped and moved the bear from the subdivision, but it came back. Zopf said he has not seen the bear this spring.
Steamboat Springs Police Department Capt. Joel Rae said officers soon would begin the annual practice of re-educating the public about bears and steps they can take to help prevent bears from becoming a nuisance. Officers will be reminding residents to use bear-proof trash containers and to not leave the containers outside for extended periods of time. Bears are attracted to bird feeders, and homeowners are asked to bring bird feeders inside each night.
After a few weeks of reaching out to the public through bear education efforts, Rae said officers would then begin issuing tickets.
A first-offense ticket is $100 but may be suspended or reduced upon proof of purchase of a bear-resistant container.
A second ticket is $150, and third and subsequent violations require a municipal court appearance. The court then can issue fines as high as $999.
Rae said he has not heard about any bear calls received by the Police Department this spring.
“I’m sure it will start happening any day,” Rae said.
— To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247 or email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com
Comments
Kerrie Cooper 2 years, 1 month ago
I say, let's hunt really stupid people that have no respect for wildlife. Go live in a big city yampavalleyboy where the only wildlife you'll have to deal with are other two legged ones such as yourself.
bandmama 2 years, 1 month ago
Hmmmmm...so YVB- what is your opinion on allowing domesticated animals (Like DOGS) barking or keeping wildlife at bay? As a hunter, do you feel that giving wildlife a healthy fear of humans is good for the well being of the wild animal? I do, and was called absurd. I fail to see the absurdity of keeping wildlife wild, and not back door visitors. if the population of a species is making the whole herd unhealthy, why is it cruel to supplement the freezer and keep the herd at manageable levels. Dont ranchers do the same with domesticated animals? (cattle, sheep and so on) You only have so much land and space. Over populate the herd and you are unable to feed them through winter, who suffers? The herd. just saying and asking. (and yes living in this valley I completely love enjoying the wildlife at a safe and resonable distance for both, them and me...)
jk 2 years, 1 month ago
bandmama, you raise a very good point, and I think there are several people in this valley that think the DOW is to blame for most of these issues. Yes while it was nice to see elk and moose roaming around town, there is the darker side that Fred pointed out as he watched those very elk starve to death. This whole situation just reeks of mis-management on the DOWs part. I guess people like lovestoread need to take a trip out to Freds backyard and watch a few animals starve to death before they can come to the realization that proper management is the key here!
jk 2 years, 1 month ago
bandmama, one more thing good luck with your dogs barking at and chasing wildlife! As I am sure you have found out 9 times out of 10 what they are barking at either gets away no problem, or you, or your dogs, or both end up regretting their chase!
greenwash 2 years, 1 month ago
IF I catch your dog chasing / harrassing my calves that are being born as we speak....Ill shoot your dog....Sorry but that is the way it is.
Have a good day.
bandmama 2 years, 1 month ago
YVB- thanks for your input, and yes poeple owe to themselves and to the wildlife to better educate themselves on this subject. jk-, LOL! Thanks, but the pooch is leashed and doesn't give much of a chase, but he certainly makes his presence known verbally, and yes most wildlife will turn tail when barked at. green- once again you have shown your level of comprehension. Cattle, last I heard were domesticated animals and not wildlife, and I have re read my posts a few times, I dont see where I stated that I allowed my dog to chase off leash any animal, let alone cattle. And it is nice to see in print in your own words that you have no problem taking the law into your own hands and shooting something.
lovestoread- while I agree that there should be a season to hunt stupid people, I dont think it is going to happen. There is a huge difference between managing wildlife and "hunting" just to shoot a living being. Most of those that are true hunters have a huge respect for the animal.
jk 2 years, 1 month ago
Come on YVB, beatng me up for several vs. hundreds?? At least I'm on the right track.
bandmama, when they come up with that stupid people season, will you please alert me?! Oh, I hope I draw a tag!!
bandmama 2 years, 1 month ago
jk- will do!!!
Fred Duckels 2 years, 1 month ago
Wild animals have a tough life devoid of any welfare and I admire everyone of them. I no longer hunt, nor will I take the life of any animal unnecessarily. I detect a sense of pride in killing and it is nauseating. I may be a conservative but snuffing out the life of an animal makes little sense.
ftpheide 2 years, 1 month ago
YVB, A fair chase? The only way that would happen is if you used a bow or black powder rifle. Other then that their is nothing fair about it! It's Sport? What's sport? Shooting a familys dog that accidently wanders onto your property?
Fred Duckels 2 years, 1 month ago
YVB, I have hunted my share when It helped balance the budget. For the most part long time residents pass on the need to kill with the exception of those in the outfitting trades. I have noticed newer residents often move here to satisfy their "fantasy camp" need to play Davy Crockett. My experience has shown that this "need " will eventually wear off in most cases. Our economy could use a boost and abundant wildlife is a commodity that brings joy to many. I am aware of the "culling" theory so I don't need a lecture. Feeding game to help them through the bad winters could bring in more visitor dollars than some of our bright ideas.
jk 2 years, 1 month ago
"I watched a herd of elk behind my house suffer this winter and about half of the herd died. The law says no feed but I would have gladly furnished some hay. The coyotes fared pretty well though. The animals valiantly worked to find feed, it was tough to watch."
So how are we gonna market this to the tourists fred?? A little 60 second commercial for the front range depicting a family, just off the ski slopes, being swept away in a nice shuttle taken to a remote field, where they dine on cheese and crackers, as they watch coyotes mercilessly eating a starving animal? Maybe a nice color pamphlet of bears digging through the local dumpsters around town could be placed in all the condo and hotel lobbies? How much traffic do you think this will generate??
.Maybe if we sold a few hundred more elk tags this would have been less tragic. Not to mention the number of hunting related dollars and full freezers achieved in the process. Or is it just ok to let the coyotes eat well??
ftpheide 2 years, 1 month ago
YVB, Running down and killing wildlife? You said in your other comment that you killed the dogs because they were going after your livestock. Sounds like you like to needlessly kill animals.
Fred Duckels 2 years, 1 month ago
JK, My point is that the ellk needn't have died, a little feed on a severe winter would help the creatures that basically fund our DOW. We can fund every looney tune program going but no one wants to share. Let's just kill the golden goose. Abundant wildlife is an attraction and will fill your freezer too. Some of you guys could die and come back in the nineteenth century and slaughter buffalo untill your gun barrels melted, whoopie!!
ftpheide 2 years, 1 month ago
Mama, "A rancher has the perfect right to shoot a critter which is ( in) the act of going after livestock. I took no pleasure in shooting those dogs over the years but I had every right to do so" --- I wouldn't want to meet you anywhere!
Fred Duckels 2 years, 1 month ago
Don't you have to fence animals out. If your cow trashes my garden I am told to put up a fence. If I am raising dogs isn't it your responsibility to fence me out?
the_Lizard 2 years, 1 month ago
Colorado being a" fence out state" doesn't apply to dogs. Ranchers have a legal right to protect their livestock, even if this means shooting your dog while it's bothering their livestock. It is also unlawful for your pets to bother wildlife. To remedy this problem (and keep your pets alive), keep them on your property and under your control.
http://www.sangres.com/rurallife/legals/conflict.htm
bandmama 2 years, 1 month ago
I have no issue with a rancher protecting his livestock. And Lizard has a good point.
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