Colorado wildfire: Front Range blazes may mean bear trouble

By William Porter
The Denver Post
June 30, 2012

For all the destruction that Front Range wildfires have wreaked on people and their homes, officials are also warning that burned-out natural habitat will cause problems for a local bear population already stressed by a long dry spell and poor foraging.

The upshot: During fire season, more hungry bears than usual will be sniffing around residential neighborhoods and dumpsters containing food spoiled by fire-induced power outages.

And as any wildlife expert will tell you, a garbage bear too often becomes a dead bear — shot or euthanized as a safety measure because it has grown too bold.

"This year we're asking people to be extraordinarily careful about what they leave out," said Theo Stein, manager of external relations for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "That includes dog food, bird feeders and greasy grills. In the aftermath of the fires, if we don't get moisture for a green-up, we're going to see a lot of hungry bears."

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