There’s a Bear!

Since moving to Colorado, we’ve seen a lot of bears. Every time I see one, I’m in awe of their big furry coats, their movements, their embodied presence. Fortunately, my encounters have included some distance.

The picture above is from this spring. My friend Lucy found this bear lounging on her deck. More recently, a restaurant in Aspen even had a bear request a table for one. https://www.aspentimes.com/news/a-bear-walks-into-a-bar/

Unfortunately, all this bear activity isn’t good for anyone—especially the bears. Bear-proof garbage cans are a must and pretty much the norm here, but despite those efforts, bear reports in Pitkin County rose nearly 31%, and incidents involving property damage and food access jumped 56% this year.

So many bears are coming into town because severe drought and a late spring freeze damaged much of their natural food supply in the mountains. They’re searching for the calories they need before hibernation. I hope they find them and make their way safely back to their mountain dens.

All of this bear activity inspired me to write a children’s book, There’s a Bear! It includes simple tips about what to do when you see a bear, along with a reminder that we share this beautiful place with them. They were here first! I hope, in some small way, it helps spread awareness, teaches children to respect bears, and helps keep bears wild.