Colorado Bear Coalition

Newsletter

March 2026



In 2025, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 5,299 reports of bear sightings and conflicts — a 15% increase over the previous six-year average.

78 bears were euthanized. Most of these deaths were linked to preventable attractants.

Colorado Bear Coalition (CBC) exists to reduce lethal management of black bears by addressing the root causes of conflict. We work with communities to remove attractants, strengthen deterrents, and implement practical solutions that keep bears wild and people safe.

Securing Trash on the Hill

For years, The Hill — a densely populated student neighborhood in Boulder — has been one of the city’s highest human–bear conflict zones.

Between 2010 and 2014, the Boulder Bear Coalition (BBC) walked alleyways across the city to understand why bears were entering town. The answer was clear: unsecured trash. The Hill was the most concentrated problem area.

In response, BBC led the successful passage of Boulder’s Bear Protection Ordinance in 2014, requiring residents and business across Boulder to secure trash and compost.

Yet nine years later, significant issues remain.


Why the ordinance alone isn’t enough on The Hill, given the unique challenges of a student-dominated neighborhood:


• High wear and tear: Plastic bear-resistant carts break under heavy multi-user use.
• Hyperphagia timing: Fall move-in coincides with bears’ peak feeding season.
• High density: Hundreds of containers per alley create nightly foraging opportunities.
• Limited enforcement: Staffing constraints reduce ordinance effectiveness.

Trash Enclosures: A Scalable Solution

With support from the 2024 CPW Human-Bear Conflict Grant and in partnership with a local property manager, BBC installed three reinforced trash enclosures on The Hill in 2025. Three more installations are scheduled for 2026.

Watch this recent CBS report highlighting our project to install trash enclosures on The Hill.

Carly Brooks

Carly is a wildlife biologist with seven years of experience studying black bears in Montana using trail cameras, genetic sampling, and GPS collars. Her expertise in bear ecology, movement, and human–wildlife conflict brings strong scientific insight to CBC’s work.

Carly is helping CBC analyze Boulder’s data to measure the effectiveness of Boulder's Bear Protection Ordinance and develop a model that other Colorado communities can adopt. Her work strengthens our ability to turn research into practical, scalable solutions that reduce human–bear conflict statewide.

Photo taken during Carly's time working with MPG Ranch, a private conservation-research station, where she aided in checking the den of a GPS-collared bear.

Colorado Bear Conflict in 2025

The majority of conflicts are preventable.

Common attractants:


• Trash
  
• Livestock, chickens, and beehives
  
• Bird feeders and pet food

Annual CPW black bear stats:

2025: 5,299 reports, 52 relocated, 78 euthanized

2024: 5,022 reports, 68 relocated, 98 euthanized

2023: 3,528 reports, 33 relocated, 63 euthanized 
2022: 4,293 reports, 59 relocated, 94 euthanized

[WATCH] Progression map shows reported bear activity across Colorado in 2025

This is not a wildlife overpopulation problem..

This is an attractant management problem.

CPW Wildlife & Habitat Roundtable
Steering Committee

CBC Executive Director Brenda Lee was selected to serve on the CPW Wildlife & Habitat Roundtable Steering Committee — strengthening the voice of proactive, non-lethal bear management at the state level.

We are working to ensure prevention remains the priority.

Need Electric Fencing?

Electric fencing is one of the most effective tools for preventing bear access to livestock and apiaries.

If you keep chickens or beehives in bear country, fencing is essential — not optional.

Need help with materials or installation?

• Secure your trash
  
• Remove attractants
  
• Install electric fencing
  
• Advocate for infrastructure solutions
  
• Support proactive conflict prevention
  
• Educate your neighbors
  
• Donate to our cause
  

Every preventable conflict avoided is one less bear euthanized.

Let’s keep bears wild — and alive.

Help us prevent the next human–bear conflict.