Food sources keep bear in Niwot

A black bear has been repeatedly sighted in the Niwot neighborhood of Heather Hills throughout the month of February, raising questions about the bear's winter activity.

Residents first observed the bear on Feb. 7, with the majority of sightings since reported near Bird Cliff Way and Meadow Lake Road. Resident Dawn Server of Meadow Lake Honey said, "It has been in neighborhood yards at least twice per week.

She elaborated, "The bear roams through backyards, looking for food and pulls down bird feeders, even if they are empty," noting that this "occurs during the day or night."

Another black bear was observed in Niwot earlier this winter. That bear was relocated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) employees to the mountains on Jan. 22.

Such activity is considered unusual because bears typically hibernate for most of the winter season. They ordinarily fall asleep in dens in response to food scarcity and low temperatures.

Bears sleep for extended periods, often awakening briefly to relieve themselves or evaluate food availability, then returning to slumber. This state is known as torpor, and it is a natural phenomenon that takes place with most bears.

The bear active in Niwot may be lacking these hibernation signals. Kara Van Hoose, a Public Information Officer at CPW said, "Bears that we see during this time of year, we have to take a harder look at."

Winter bear presence documented in several other instances in Colorado has a few probable causes according to Van Hoose. Factors such as abnormally high temperatures can prevent bears from entering hibernation. However, human activity is viewed as a leading reason for this unnatural behavior.

Van Hoose explained, "If bears continue to find food sources and continue to eat, they are less likely to go into torpor." Food availability can prevent bears from experiencing the lack of food that normally leads them to enter hibernation.

Another group focused on the topic is the Colorado Bear Coalition, a nonprofit organization centered around "preserving the welfare of bears and people." Brenda Lee is the founder and president of the organization.

Lee explained that the risk involved when a bear interacts with communities predominantly impacts the animal itself. Many human food sources are unhealthy for bears, and relocation is sometimes called for, which can threaten a bear's well-being.

A relocated bear may be transported to existing habitats, increasing the likelihood of intraspecific conflict. Bears also have the ability to recall and return to food-dense locations, sometimes leading them to attempt dangerous urban crossings.

"Relocation feels satisfying for a community-oh, give the bear a better chance-but it is just temporary," Lee explained.

She stressed that the cons of bear relocation suggest that community action should be the first step taken. Lee offered recommendations about how Niwot residents can limit bear attractants.

Indoor or bear-locked garbage bins prevent bears from accessing potentially damaging trash. "If you don't have a bear-resistant trash cart," Lee warned, "bears know the trash schedule and so...they will go out that morning and get into the trash."

Electric fences have proven effective in deterring bears. Lee stated that storing bird feeders during high activity seasons and collecting fallen fruit are also critical measures.

Van Hoose described a practice called hazing which is recommended in human-dense settings where bears are active. She said, "It is just a fancy word for making a bear uncomfortable through lights and sounds or smells."

Some community members feel that existing proposals are unreasonable on a wide scale. "I wish there was a clear solution to this growing presence," Server shared. "While some bear attractants, like beehives and chickens, can be protected, completely eliminating others...is an ideal goal but not a realistic expectation for our community."

The black bear seen in recent weeks appears to remain active, and Niwot residents continue to face the challenge of properly managing its presence. Additional steps to discourage bear activity can be found here as previously reported by the Left Hand Valley Courier.