Baby Bear Eyes Up Wooden Bear In Boulder

BOULDER, CO — As bears came out of hibernation this spring in Colorado, they found a slightly quieter world than the one they left behind over the winter. With more people staying at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, wildlife has been able to wander around and inspect some interesting things, without humans getting in the way.

In a Boulder Neighbor Post, community member Steve Wolf shared a photo of a young bear inspecting a wooden bear, and the caption is anyone's game.

The photo was taken Monday afternoon near Olde Stage Road, just north of Boulder.

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Now that bears are out and about, it's a good time to remind Coloradans how to keep our four-legged neighbors safe. Bears that become too aggressive in their pursuit of an easy meal often have to be killed, wildlife officers warn.

"Every time we’re forced to destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that loses. We all lose a little piece of the wildness that makes Colorado so special," a Colorado Parks and Wildlife public notice says.

State wildlife officials have issued the following guidelines:

• Always keep your barbecues clean
• Take down any bird feeders
• Keep garages closed
• Only put out trash on the morning of pickup

Any sightings should be reported to CPW at 303-291-7227, or to police.

For more information about bear safety, visit the state's parks and wildlife website.