These maps (click to enlarge) were created from data collected in 2008 by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bear Smart Durango and the City of Durango's Refuse Enforcement Officer. GIS maps were generously provided by Rob Bergstrom with the La Plata County GIS Department. Thank you so much Rob for your expertise and assistance. Data was compiled and entered into Excel by Bear Smart Durango.
Data includes bear sightings (bear(s) seen) and incidents (bears in trash, in human foods, broke into homes, etc.) in the city and county. It does not include bear management or non-hunter bear mortality data, (euthanization, capture and relocation, predation or bear-vehicle mortality). Absent from maps this year are calls to the Herald Bear Tracker, as those records were not preserved. That has been remedied.
There were 228 total reports, down from 1,271 in 2007. Of the 228 reports, 132 were in the city and 96 in the county. 121 (or 53%) were directly trash-related.
Acknowledgements: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bear Smart Durango, City of Durango and La Plata County.
Note: These maps are for visual representation only and care must be taken in analyzing and interpreting the information contained.
