Bear Smart

Black bears have started to emerge from hibernation during the past couple weeks, and Durango-area residents should be aware of these facts and helpful tips as they become active: Males tend to...

The city of Boulder last year issued 885 citations for violations to its bear-safe trash law, resulting in more than $250,000 in fines. So, how does Durango compare? In 2016, the city of Durango...

When Z Corcorran went out on the back deck of her home in Forest Lakes the day after Thanksgiving, she found a bear had broken into a small refrigerator, polished off a tray of leftovers and took...

Ripened fruit on the ground may be a welcome sight to urban gatherers, but for BearSmart’s Bryan Peterson, it’s just another threat that adds to the risk of human-bear conflicts. “Your choice in...

A bear was euthanized Tuesday after it killed a miniature horse that was left overnight in an open corral near Junction Creek Road, a setback during an otherwise quiet season for bear interactions...

When people are careless with garbage, grills and bird feeders, the bears who are attracted pay the price. After years of trying to train adults to change their behavior, Bear Smart is focusing...

When grizzly bears in Montana can’t break into bear-resistant trash cans, yet black bears in Durango can, it raises the question – what’s going on here? Bryan Peterson, executive director of the...

Bears are waking up in La Plata County, so it’s a good time to take down bird feeders and be vigilant about using a bear-proof trash can. Four bears have been spotted this month and reported to...

If there’s a post-Halloween jack-o’-lantern still leering on your front porch, bears and other wildlife are more than happy to steal it. Rather than leave those squashy orange gourds rotting on...