Spring officially starts this weekend and, in the Rocky Mountain region, that means the potential for wild swings in weather. If you’ve lived in our beautiful state long enough, you know you can be enjoying a walk wearing short sleeves one day and shoveling snow off your porch the next. It’s a season of transition for humans and animals alike, and soon five orphaned bear cubs will wake from hibernation to a new transition in their lives near Pikes Peak.
Earlier this year, we partnered with Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) to provide new homes for the bear cubs near our local watersheds - relocated from the Wet Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Wetmore. In late January, wildlife officers sedated the cubs for transportation to new locations, where they were loaded onto sleds, pulled over snow and tucked into new dens.
We’ve participated in CPW’s re-denning program in past years. The need varies from year to year based on the number of cubs needing a fresh opportunity to strike out on their own in the wild. Winter relocation minimizes the impact of the transition for the cubs because they are relocated while sleeping and allowed to wake naturally weeks later in habitat suited to their needs. Our watersheds around Pikes Peak provide the bears with access to shelter, water, food and minimal interaction with humans.
Keith Riley, general manager of water and wastewater operations, says that our participation in CPW’s bear cub re-denning program has been a highlight of his many years at Springs Utilities.
“Our properties on and around Pikes Peak provide minimally trafficked spaces to re-den these cubs and help give them a fresh start at living independently in the wild,” he says. “It’s something we feel good about doing, plus it fits into our mission of service. Collaborating with CPW, the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies in our watershed areas is a critical component of our ability to deliver water to our customers.”
As these cubs and other bears begin to wake from hibernation over the next several weeks (I like to think they’re dreaming about creeks filled with fresh snowmelt and lots of fat trout), it’s important to be “bear aware” if you are out and about in the high country. They’re pretty hungry after a long slumber and can easily be tempted by smells wafting through the air from lunch scraps and discarded food wrappings.
It’s also a good time of year to do a quick check of items around your property, especially if you live close to forested areas. Make sure your trash cans are bear proof, and do not leave uneaten dog or cat food outside. Bird feeders also attract bears, as do outdoor grills that aren’t cleaned after each use. For more great tips on how to be “bear responsible," visit CPW’s website.
Giving bears - like the cubs that just found new homes near Pikes Peak - a chance to live better lives means ensuring they learn to forage for food instead of visiting human homes and campsites for easy pickings.
Co-existing near wildlife is a part of Colorado life - as much as spring snowstorms, craft beer and high altitude gardening.