No thanks. I already ate.: 2012

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Talking Trash: Human-Bear Conflict in the Greater Durango Area

A slideshow presentation by Bear Smart Durango Director Bryan Peterson.
Free to the general public. Donations are greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, October 23
6:30 PM - Talk at 6:45 PM
The Back Space Theatre
1120 Main Avenue
Beer and Theatre Food Available

Bear photo: Candace Richerson

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Bear Paws Fundraiser at Kroegers!

Shop at Kroegers Ace Hardware and support Bear Smart Durango! In August, cashiers are selling one and five dollar "bear paws" as a fundraiser for Bear Smart Durango.

Donations support ongoing efforts in 1) educating residents on coexisting with black bears, 2) advocating for policies that limit foods that attract bears, 3) making bear-proofing more available in the community and 4) offering real solutions to human-bear conflict.

Special thanks to Kroegers Ace Hardware and Basin Printing. For questions, contact Bear Smart Durango at 749-4262 or bp@frontier.net.

how you can help

Most importantly is to remove any attractants from your property that will lure bears, which creates "problem" bears in the first place. Remove the food source and you remove the bear. Here are a few other ways you can contribute:

• Be a good neighbor, by talking to them, and notifying them on how to not attract bears to your neighborhood.

• Make bird feeders inaccessible on first sign of bears being in your area. All it takes is once, and bears easily recall this valuable, high-caloric food reward (a seven pound tube of black oil birdseed contains 12,000 calories).

• If you have fruit trees and actually use the fruit and dont want damage to limbs, get all fruit off the tree, shake the fruit off if necessary and pick before fruit is ripe. Remove any and all fallen fruit from the ground.

• Report bear sightings.

• Notify your elected officials when you are experiencing bear issues. Or write a letter to the editor. People that draft policy don't address something they never hear about.

• Get a wildlife-resistant trash container for your home. If you have a dumpster, talk to your waste provider about upgrading or modifying with metal lids and latches to make it wildlife-proof.

• If you live in the county, consider electric fencing to protect things of value from damage, injury or death from bears.

• Feel free to help out financially. We accept contributions year-round, not just during bear season.

• Volunteer some time during bear season.

Please allow bears to remain wild bears.