It’s bear time once again; prepare
By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Sept. 13, 2017
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — It’s black bear season once again in southern Colorado. That includes the Academy and its 18,000 plus acres. To help minimize bear-human conflicts, base personnel must be diligent to bear- proof their homes, work and recreation locations.
By following these tips, airmen can ensure a safe and enjoyable season minus a bear threat:
- Remember bear activity near human food sources is anticipated to be high this fall because a late freeze last spring reduced the availability of the berry and nut crops bears rely heavily upon
- Remove (or bring in at night) all items that attract bears such as bird feeders, pet food, and barbeque grills
- Ensure lids to your animal-proof dumpsters or trash receptacles are closed and properly latched
- Housing residents who do not have animal-proof trash receptacles must secure their trash in a garage until the scheduled trash collection day
- Bears will forage continuously and return to the same area or dumpster they’ve previously found food, unless the food source is eliminated
- Bears commonly return for their first post-hibernation meal to the same spots they previously found food
To report an animal-proof trash container needing repair in the Pine Valley or Douglass Valley housing areas, call Hunt maintenance at 867-9675.
For non-housing bear-proof containers needing repair, call 10th Civil Engineer Squadron Production Control at 333-2790.
If you have an immediate bear problem or threat, contact the Security Forces Law Enforcement Desk at 333-2000.
To report other bear encounters, call Natural Resources at 333-3308.