04-07-2010, 11:11 AM
ASPEN, Colo., - Following up on the Aspen area's busiest bear conflict year in recent history, the Colorado Division of Wildlife is looking for members of the public to help educate others about avoiding problems with black bears. The Division of Wildlife has teamed up with the City of Aspen, Aspen Police Department and Pitkin County to form a volunteer Bear Aware team that will work around Aspen and Pitkin County. Volunteers for the team are being recruited from the area.
An initial training and interview session for the team will take place on Wednesday, April 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Rio Grande Room (455 Rio Grande Place) in Aspen. Volunteers selected for the team will be required to attend a follow-up training the evening of Tuesday, April 20.
Bear Aware team members will be used in neighborhoods where bear activity is occurring. The volunteers will go door-to-door to provide information and to spot bear attractants that could be eliminated. The volunteers will not be empowered to enforce laws, regulation or ordinances but they will be able to bring violations to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Bear Aware team members do not handle or deal with bears but as volunteers they may have opportunities to work with wildlife officers when bears are captured for research or relocation.
Bear Aware teams have been successful at reducing black bear conflict in other mountain communities but previous efforts in the Aspen area have failed to generate a sufficient number of volunteers.
"We didn't become successful in Summit County overnight," said Gail Marshall, a volunteer who heads up the Summit County Bear Aware Team. "We started years ago by putting up signs and then we started walking door-to-door. Then we worked with the media, the local governments and law enforcement agencies, the school district, the ski resorts, lodging companies, homeowner's associations, restaurants, chambers, residents and visitors. Today, we're still learning and growing but we're making a positive difference for bears in our community."
"We're hoping concerned community members are willing to step up and make a difference through the Bear Aware effort," said Kevin Wright, District Wildlife Manger for the area. "We would rather do everything we can to prevent bear conflicts than end up in the situation where we have to put bears down. To get there, we need everyone's help."
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Aspen Bear Aware team and team member responsibilities is encouraged to attend the Aspen meeting on April 14. For questions about the meeting, contact the Division of Wildlife office in Glenwood Springs at (970) 947-2920.
An initial training and interview session for the team will take place on Wednesday, April 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Rio Grande Room (455 Rio Grande Place) in Aspen. Volunteers selected for the team will be required to attend a follow-up training the evening of Tuesday, April 20.
Bear Aware team members will be used in neighborhoods where bear activity is occurring. The volunteers will go door-to-door to provide information and to spot bear attractants that could be eliminated. The volunteers will not be empowered to enforce laws, regulation or ordinances but they will be able to bring violations to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Bear Aware team members do not handle or deal with bears but as volunteers they may have opportunities to work with wildlife officers when bears are captured for research or relocation.
Bear Aware teams have been successful at reducing black bear conflict in other mountain communities but previous efforts in the Aspen area have failed to generate a sufficient number of volunteers.
"We didn't become successful in Summit County overnight," said Gail Marshall, a volunteer who heads up the Summit County Bear Aware Team. "We started years ago by putting up signs and then we started walking door-to-door. Then we worked with the media, the local governments and law enforcement agencies, the school district, the ski resorts, lodging companies, homeowner's associations, restaurants, chambers, residents and visitors. Today, we're still learning and growing but we're making a positive difference for bears in our community."
"We're hoping concerned community members are willing to step up and make a difference through the Bear Aware effort," said Kevin Wright, District Wildlife Manger for the area. "We would rather do everything we can to prevent bear conflicts than end up in the situation where we have to put bears down. To get there, we need everyone's help."
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Aspen Bear Aware team and team member responsibilities is encouraged to attend the Aspen meeting on April 14. For questions about the meeting, contact the Division of Wildlife office in Glenwood Springs at (970) 947-2920.