TWO OURAY COUNTY RESIDENT CITED FOR ILLEGALLY SHOOTING BEARS
In the past month, two Ouray County residents have been cited for illegally shooting black bears. Both face charges of unlawful take and hunting of a black bear and $1,370 each in fines.
Homeowners have the right to protect their life and livestock. However, bears may not be shot simply because they are near a person’s home, said Kelly Crane, district wildlife manager for the area. If homeowners experience problems with wildlife they need to contact the DOW.
“They should not try and take matters into their own hands,” explained Kelly Crane, district wildlife manager in that area. “Homeowners also have a responsibility to keep their properties clear of bear attractants which include trash, pet food, bird feed and feeders, and barbecue grills. It is illegal for any person to leave bear attractants unsecured. Homeowners that do so can be cited.”
The first incident, reported to the DOW by a neighbor, took place on June 12 at approximately 5:45 a.m. In an attempt to chase a bear off his property, a homeowner shot the bear with non-lethal rubber buckshot while the animal was eating trash in a dumpster. After the bear climbed out of the dumpster the homeowner shot it two more times with regular lead bird shot and wounded the animal. It is illegal to shoot an animal with a potentially lethal round unless the person is hunting and holds a valid license.
Wildlife officers attempted to track this animal but did not locate it.
The resident had been contacted previously about bear attractants on his property.
The second incident occurred on June 26 at approximately 9 a.m. A resident of Loghill Village, just north of Ridgway, saw a bear in his driveway. He went out on the porch, yelled and threw rocks at the bear. When the bear didn’t leave, the resident shot and killed the bear. The bear was not going toward the homeowner or the home when it was shot. There were several hummingbird feeders and other bird feeders on the property that possibly attracted the bear.
The homeowner initially reported that he found a dead bear on his property. When questioned by a DOW officer investigating the incident, the homeowner admitted that he shot the bear.
Unsecured bear attractants are the main reasons bears go into residential areas. The DOW recommends that garbage be stored in a garage, locked shed or a bear-proof trash container or dumpster. The DOW also recommended that if a bear is known to be in the area that all bird feeders be taken down.
Homeowners can report bear activity to the DOW office in Montrose at 252-6000. DOW officers will explain how homeowners can bear-proof their properties.
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The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.