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Caution – You are in Bear Country!

This is Bear Country. The ideal habitat for the Black Bear is the Conifer and Aspen forests, the rugged mountain terrain or the meadows full of wildflowers that are found in Colorado. Bears may be found in spring, summer and autumn and while most are not inclined to get close to humans, you may have a chance encounter with this large predator. There are a few things that will be very important for you to know in order to protect yourself and your companions while camping or picnicking in the Colorado mountains. Proper understanding of the behavior of the Black Bears will help you to react quickly and correctly, so you can avoid danger.

The Black Bear is a shy animal by nature, and most likely will see and smell you long before you know they are even there. Standing 5-6 feet tall, the Black Bear and weighs in at an average of 200-350 lbs.  They have an amazing sense of smell and can can detect cooking up to a mile away. Their nose is 100 times more sensitive than a human’s. Don’t underestimate a bear’s ability to cover distance quickly, in fact they can run about 30 miles per hour. The bears come in a variety of sizes and colors, and the name “Black Bear” refers to a species, not a color of fur. Many Colorado bears are brown, tan, cinnamon as well as black. One thing that is a standard with all the bears is their interest in food. They love to eat and will stock up on food during the warm months so that they may hibernate comfortably during the winter months. Eating just about anything they can find, the Black Bear will increase his intake as the colder months approach. They can eat up to 20 hours each day, taking in as many as 20,000 calories per day in an effort to increase their body weight by 25% – 30%.

Warnings for Campers

Some years the bears are more active than in other years, and more instances have been reported of human and bear encounters. When you see posted warnings about Bears, take them seriously. To discourage bears from coming into the campground – here’s a breakdown of things you should and should not do when camping and spending leisure time in Colorado’s National Parks, State Parks, National Forests and back-country.

  • DO: Store all food and food containers inside a closed, hard-sided vehicle. This includes canned food, all beverages, pet food, coolers and water containers. A hard side vehicle is the trunk or interior of a car, the interior of a truck cab or sports utility vehicle or the interior of a motor home or hard sided trailer. A hard sided vehicle is not the inside of a pop up camper or tent.
  • DO: Store all cooking utensils inside a closed, hard-sided vehicle. This includes coffee pots, stoves, silverware, dishes, pots, pans, etc.
  • DO: Dispose of all trash immediately after meals in dumpsters or bear proof trash containers.
  • DO: Report all bear sightings to a Park Ranger so they can keep track of the animals.
  • DO NOT: Bring food, cosmetics or other toiletries into your tent or pop-up camper. Remember the scents may be interesting to bears.
  • DO NOT: Sleep in the same clothes you cook in. Change into clean clothes and store cooking clothes inside a closed, hard-sided vehicle.
  • DO NOT: Put out hummingbird feeders. The sweet smell of the nectar solution attracts bears.

Bear Encounters While Hiking

Again, knowing what to do and not do may really help you if a bear crosses your path while hiking. Animals are most likely to be active at dusk and dawn, so hiking during these hours increases your chances of meeting them. It’s important to keep your children close by and under your supervision at all times, and remember that pets are prohibited on trails and in the backcountry of State Parks.

  • DO: Let someone know where you’ll be hiking and take a good trail map with you. Stay on designated trails and be alert to any posted information along the trail.
  • DO: Stay calm if you see a bear! STOP and quietly back away from the animal, giving as much room as possible for the bear to change it’s course.
  • DO NOT: Yell or shout to try and scare the bear. Remaining calm and quiet is less likely to cause the bear to defend itself and attack. Bears don’t usually want a confrontation and will leave if allowed the space to do so.
  • DO NOT: Run away! Bears are too fast, they can run at 30 mph, they can climb trees and their predatory instinct may cause them to give chase.
  • DO: Stand your ground if charged. Bears will often stop after making an advance to show you they mean business. If you are unable to avoid the bear, and they attack – fight back!!
  • DO: Keep bear spray available to protect yourself. Bear spray is a highly concentrated pepper spray which projects a steady stream over long distance to discourage aggressive bears from attacking. It’s been proven to be more effective than firearms in getting the animal to run away, but certainly doesn’t replace proper precautions in bear country.

Black Bear Photo Gallery


Colorado Bear Country (west of I-25 corridor)


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