Bear

[Vic Harris Kathleen Lowe]

A juvenile black  bear (not cinnamon) was just on our deck on  15th st. The attraction was the hummingbird feeder  that we always take in at night but hadn't brought in yet. 
We hazed him away and will not be putting the hummingbird feeder back out! 
Vic Harris

[Cal]

I think the same bear (or one very much like it) just came by my house on Spruce–also looking to get at a feeder. I gave him/her a good shooing and it headed up toward Upper Spruce. My feeder is also in now.

[Amanda Knudsen]

7:42 Large dark black bear on Upper Spruce. Different bear than the cinnamon bear we have been seeing around.

[John Hardman]

Hey Y'ALL ~ 

Thanks for the INTEL.  I just walked 16th & Spruce St.  Didn't run into Our Big Guy!  

Sounds like we have a couple Bears that want to be TOWN BEARS: 
Lil Red and now Mr BIG. BOTH have a taste for nectar and everything else that 
has caloric value that they can find.  The reality is, the more attractants 
available to Our Bears, brings them closer in, to our homes.  Sooner or later
a "break-in" or just a "walk-in" could cause a Bear to lose it's life.
(PS: and your house/car gets trashed!  BIG TIME !  And your frig will be empty)

Maybe put in the feeders for a couple days?!?!  Our Bears move in and out of 
our area in search of food.  There is very little for them to eat right now, mostly
grass and bugs.  YUM?

Save Our Bears JT 

~ SOB john

[Michelle]

Thanks to those who posted about bringing bird feeders inside and about their bear sightings. It will hopefully remind others that bears come through town 24/7 and will show up when you’re not expecting it.

The rule with feeders is 8-10 feet out from any tree, pillar, structure and 8-10 feet in the air. If you cannot meet this, don’t bother. And don’t kid yourself.

I know better than to guess the number of bears in and around town without data, but so far it’s looking like we could have a challenging year.

[John Hardman]

Lila, my German Shepherd, was going crazy early this AM (5AM).  She wanted out real bad, but a little early to let her out 
so she can go off on an intruder.  I noticed the neighbor's BEAR CAN was on it's side now.  Often your pets are your
early warning, that something is out there.  Take it seriously. 

Get an AirHorn ($7 on Amazon) HAZE THOSE BEARS! 

I have reliable INTEL that we have 4-5 Bears that have been sighted in or near JT.

Lil Red is a Reddish/Brown Juvenile who has been seen several times eating Hummer Nectar and Suet in town, in broad daylight
He is the size of a big dog.  100+lbs.  He ran off rapidly both times I chased him and really ran when I had my airhorn!  

We have a Black Cub/Juvi that was spotted on West Mesa a few weeks ago. 

We have a BIG/Adult Redish Brown Bear spotted a mile below JT a few days ago and up Near Blue Jay also. 

Now we have a BIG/Adult Black Bear who was all around town last night pursuing bird feeders also!

As I have not seen in person or photos, all these Bears,  It is very possible that there is another one or two
in/around town. 

Thanks for reporting all sightings here!  Bear Season is picking up.  Still a while before our forest will have 
additional food sources for OUR BEARS.  

CLEAN AND LOCKED!
Everything
STASH THAT TRASH
Bird Feeders IN at night
BE SAFE !

~ SOB john

[Hollis]

Here's an idea, plant native flowering species for hummingbirds. I know it's not like having the red plastic feeder hanging so you can watch out your window or see multiple hummers feed all at once and become territorial and stressing them in the fight for food.
Feeders are a concentrated source of food for hummers and bears, they learn.

https://rockies.audubon.org/habitat-hero...ah-wyoming

[tulkula]

I caught a video of the young Black bear yesterday as he ran away after my catching him coming into the yard. Here he is, heading down to Linda's on the switch back heading down Gillespie Spur where I heard her dog and her yells, I think with Mark, sending him further along his way.

[John Hardman]

Thanks Karla for the Video !
That's our Black Juvi/Knucklehead and a handsome one!

[Steven B in PV]

Here's an idea, plant native flowering species for hummingbirds. I know it's not like having the red plastic feeder hanging so you can watch out your window or see multiple hummers feed all at once and become territorial and stressing them in the fight for food.
Feeders are a concentrated source of food for hummers and bears, they learn.

https://rockies.audubon.org/habitat-hero...ah-wyoming

Yeah, Hollis!

We plant native hummingbird flowers bigtime, every year.  The hummingbird gardens and our hummer meadow keep expanding.  As I take out conifers for fire mitigation, the flowers and shrubs take over.

Be aware that more and more nursery flowers labeled as "attracts hummingbirds" don't actually provide the natural sugars hummers need.  They visit once, then nevermore.  My truck tail lights attract hummingbirds, but the birds don't get much from them.  

Native Rocky Mountain flowers work best but some hybrids provide sugars, too.  Experiment, experience, take notes.  Collect native seeds conservatively, saving others to propagate from the mother plant.  Plant or spread the species knowledgably to grow successfully. 

Clean, well managed sugar water feeders are good for the birds, and for people to watch them.  But, it's our responsibility to exclude bears, raccoons,  moose, and little kids who might enjoy drinking the sugar water.  Just like excluding mice, pack rats, bats, etc., from our homes, it takes thought, planning and effort.  But the payoff can be big.  Raising feeders via pulley systems or otherwise to the 8-10 ft. level, electric fences, and preparations to softly haze bears work well.  

Predators and scavengers (bears are both), will return to a site where they are successful.  Prevent the securement of food and they aren't compelled to return.

The recent campaigns to stop all bird feeding has been a disaster in the effort to connect people with wildlife.  Don't be a victim.  Take control.  Be responsible.  Get real with wildlife, or go live in an apartment in Boulder.  Engage and enjoy life.  Why do you live in the mountains, anyway?

[Kim Renner Busey]

Karla,
That is the bear that was in the Bar-Kay about a week or so ago