Bear Smart Durango

Bear Smart Durango has worked proactively since 2003 to prevent human and bear conflict from happening in the first place with the goal of keeping people safe and allowing bears to thrive in their natural environments.

Humans are responsible for the vast majority of conflict, yet oftentimes only bears are dealt with. Human-caused bear mortality for the year will likely be sobering. As of early September, wildlife officials had placed 52 traps and euthanized 11 bears in La Plata County. 

We believe our community can do better in reducing the amount of human foods that put people and bears in harms way. To do that takes resources. In recent years, our efforts have allowed the community to add: 

        •   755 bear-resistant trash cans for city, county and tribal residents

        •   37 all-metal bear-resistant trash cans for the city, area schools and more

        •   40 all-metal food storage lockers for area USFS campgrounds

        •   Mitigation tools to assist residents experiencing human-bear conflict

        •   Materials to install 60 electric fences for chickens, beehives, and more

        •   Fruit gleaning staff and crew and a Bear Resource Officer.

Last year, we launched the LPC Bear Hotline at (970) 247-BEAR, a one-stop resource for residents. We assisted Table to Farm Compost in becoming the first and only bear-proof compost facility in Colorado. This year, we updated our website and partnered with Visit Durango and the La Plata County Airport in reaching millions with our educational videos on Visiting and Recreating in Bear Country!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Bear season lasts about eight months, but our work continues year-round. When you become a new monthly donor to Bear Smart Durango, your first month’s gift will be matched by Colorado Gives up to $100! Monthly donations are an easy and powerful way to sustain causes you care about - like keeping people and bears safe in our community. 

 

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

FRUIT GLEANING WITH THE GOOD FOOD COLLECTIVE

"The bears have been coming back every evening, but they don't stay long. Bear activity has definitely slowed way down since the apple cleaning crew came. Thanks to The Good Food Collective and Bear Smart Durango for all you do!" - Alison, Durango

PROVIDING RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY

ELECTRIC FENCING TO DETER BEARS

 

WE WORK ON BEHALF OF THOSE WITHOUT VOICE

HELP US IN WORKING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND ALLOWING OUR WILD 

NEIGHBORS TO THRIVE IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS.