URGENT UPDATE: Emergency officials have issued a Code Red alert due to an “aggressive” bear sighted in west Durango, Colorado. The alert was sent to residents around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday evening, specifically targeting neighborhoods near Delwood Avenue and Arroyo Drive. Residents were advised to stay indoors as authorities work to address the situation.
Details about the bear’s aggressive behavior remain unclear as of Wednesday morning. The alert was disseminated via text and phone calls by La Plata Emergency, but the agency responsible for the alert was not immediately identified. Officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have reported a concerning rise in bear encounters, with 231 bear sightings logged in La Plata County as of July 14.
John Livingston, a spokesman for CPW, emphasized the unusual number of incidents for this early in the summer. “It’s always alarming when we get a lot of incidents this early in the summer, but it’s not totally uncommon for Durango,” he stated. As summer progresses into late summer and early fall, bears become increasingly active, searching for food to prepare for winter hibernation.
The rise in bear encounters has been particularly notable this year, with a spike in conflicts related to chicken coops. Livingston attributes this trend to the growing popularity of hobby chicken farming in the area. Electric fencing is recommended as a preventive measure for protecting chicken coops, although it is only permitted outside city limits due to local regulations in Durango.
Human food and garbage also attract bears, as underlined by the findings from Bear Smart Durango, which reported 42 bear sightings in July alone. Alarmingly, 86% of those incidents involved access to human food sources. Residents are urged to report any bear sightings immediately to help manage the situation effectively.
A common misconception is that reporting a bear sighting to CPW will lead to the animal being trapped or euthanized. Livingston clarified, “We want to encourage people to call us early while we still have a chance to intervene, without ever having to set a trap.”
Residents are advised to remain vigilant and take precautions. With the bear’s aggressive behavior reported, the community’s safety is a top priority. Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely, and further updates are expected as new information becomes available.
Stay tuned for more developments on this urgent situation in Durango.
