Newsletter, August 2025

It’s hyperphagia season!

The bears are hungry, so be bear-aware

As we head into fall, bears are entering hyperphagia, when they gorge themselves on food and can drink buckets of water to fatten up for hibernation. Black bears can eat 20,000 or more calories per day (the calories contained in 35 Big Macs, for instance).

We love bears, so we wish them success in their culinary endeavors. And it’s because we love them that we use this occasion to remind everyone to keep human sources of food (trash, bird feeders, fruit trees, beehives, chicken coops, pet food etc.) secured, locked away or, in the case of beehives and chicken coops, surrounded by an electric fence. Taking these steps helps keep everyone, bruin and human, safe and happy.

And speaking of electric security…

If you need electric fencing or electrified “unwelcome mats,” Heather Reich and her husband, Derek, can help. They founded Bear-ier Solutions to tackle the challenges of human-bear conflict head-on.

Such systems could have helped prevent the very sad death of a bear called Tripod in the Pinebrook Hills area of Boulder this month. Tripod was reported to be breaking into a human structure. CPW trapped and killed her, leaving her cub orphaned. This is a tragic reminder of why we as humans must do our part to secure food sources.

Below: Unwelcome mats in front of garage doors.

Want to help?

Colorado Bear Coalition is eager to help communities who want to do the right thing. Consider making a donation for us to purchase electric “unwelcome mats” to loan to communities.

SUPPORT THE UNWELCOME-MAT FUND

CBC joins bash for wildlife

Launching with the opening of Platt Park Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Veterinarians Operating for Wildlife (VOW) aims to connect communities with wildlife conservation through inspiring, family-friendly events. Their vision is to host regular fundraisers, each benefiting a different wildlife nonprofit.

For their inaugural event, VOW hosted a celebration and fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program at the historic Jewel Theater in Denver. Brenda Lee, president and executive director of the Colorado Bear Coalition (above), was invited to table the event, joining in the festivities and sharing the story of CBC’s work to protect Colorado’s bears.

Quotable

“So much of the messaging that we hear every day, especially nowadays, is designed to distance us from nature, to indulge in our thinking that nature needs us but that we don't need nature anymore. I think everyone in this room knows better. I certainly know better. I feel great humility whenever I'm in nature. And I believe observing other animals in the wild helps me to understand myself better. But when nature thrives, we also know people thrive. When we respect animals, we learn to better respect ourselves and one another.”

Marlon Reis, first gentleman of Colorado

at CBC’s first gala fundraiser, May 2025

Join us as we help bears, won't you?

SUPPORT COLORADO'S BEARS NOW!