Hunting black bears won't keep them away

Increased urban black bear activity in the Roaring Fork Valley, and the number of bears the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has had to put down this year, has some residents wondering if an increase in bear hunting licenses would be a good way to reduce the number of urban black bear incidents.

Not likely, said DOW spokesman Randy Hampton.

Hunting is a way for DOW to manage wildlife populations; it's not a solution to decrease the number of urban black bear incidents in areas like Aspen, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, which have seen an increase in activity this year.

In 1992, Colorado residents voted to eliminate the spring bear hunting season due to concerns of orphaned cubs if a mother bear was killed. At that time the DOW did increase the number of fall bear hunting licenses it allowed for black bear population control reasons, Hampton said.

"Without control on the population, be it any other critter as well, it reaches a point where conflict, disease, collision with vehicles and other incidents sky rocket," Hampton said. "We utilize means to manage critters on what habitat will support."

Colorado has a statewide black bear population of between 8,000 and 12,000, according to Hampton. In 2006, 454 black bears were killed by hunters statewide. The DOW issued 8,023 hunting licenses that year. So, increasing the amount of hunting tags simply would not have an affect on the urban bear incidents.

"Bear hunting is a niche market," Hampton said. "If you look at the national statistics, there has been a decline in the number of people participating in hunting altogether. Bear hunting is a much narrower field of hunters."

But Hampton expects hunters' success rates to increase this year due to the drought conditions that affect the bears supplies of natural food, berries and Gamble Oak, limiting areas where bears feed.

"The bears will be more spread out during a good food year," Hampton said. "Hunters who know where to look for bears will have better luck."

Drought and bad natural food crops are some of the reason for an increase in urban black bear activity in the Roaring Fork Valley, along with increasing development, which decreases quality black bear habitat.

"We've developed a lot of land," Hampton said. "Our communities have grown, more roads and the amount of people that recreate in the open lands has increased, the amount of people in the forests now have increased. All of that, along with the energy development in the area, leaves the bear habitat decreasing all the time."

All contributing to the number of urban incidents. But the DOW doesn't take urban activity into consideration when determining the number of hunting licenses it will issue in a given year.

"(DOW doesn't) have to increase the amount of licenses to decrease the urban bear problems," Hampton said. "We've had discussions on if we need to increase the harvest, but at the same time you don't want to move too quickly."

Hampton said that issues like drought and development that increase the number of urban incidents also helps decrease the population naturally. With less quality habitat, the black bears will produce fewer offspring.

Black bears typically go into a state of hyperphagia in the fall - a feeding frenzy during which they drastically increase the amount of fruits and nuts they eat in preparation for hibernation. During a drought year that affects the wild crops they feed on, bears typically have a decrease in offspring. The reason, Hampton said, is that bears mate in the summer season but the embryo doesn't attach itself to the uterine wall until hibernation season. Without sufficient nutrients to sustain the embryo throughout hibernation the embryo is rejected.

Bear hunt • In 2006 8,023 total black bear hunting licenses were issued by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. • That same year, the DOW recorded a 5.6 percent success rate for black-bear hunters with 454 bears killed. • Limited black bear season is September 2-30 by draw only, Archery (unlimited with cap) is Sept. 2-23, muzzleloading (unlimited with cap) is Sept. 8-16. Rifle black bear season (unlimited with cap) runs concurrent with deer and elk rifle seasons. Licenses available in 2007 for areas surrounding Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs are recorded in three areas called data analysis units (DAU). • White River DAU to the north of Glenwood Springs has issued 375 of 655 total licenses. • Grand Mesa DAU to the southwest of Glenwood Springs has issued 1,100 of 1,950 licenses. • Aspen DAU to the southeast of Glenwood Springs has issued 200 of 448 licenses.

"Mother Nature has a system," Hampton said. "It may be harsh, but nature is harsh."



Contact John Gardner: 384-9114

jgardner@postindependent.com

Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO