Current Management & Monitoring
1. Seasonal Garbage Law Enforcement
a. Details
· It will be illegal for citizens to put garbage out the night before garbage collection
· This law will only apply during the months of August1st - November 30th
· This law will be enforced by the Division of Wildlife with fines up to $500 for violation.
· First time offenders will be fined $200
· Neighbors of perpetrators will be encouraged to alert authorities.
· Send letters to citizens
· Put a notice in bills
b. Benefits
· Bears will have less access to garbage in the city
· This may result in less bears coming into town
c. Cons
· Offenders might not always be caught
· Enforcers of the law would be limited
2. Aversive Conditioning
a. Details
· A formal aversive conditioning program will be established and implemented in La Plata County.
· Have citizens who own guns, shoot bears with rubber bullets
· Encourage citizens with bird feeders and other food sources to stow them away at night
· Encourage home owners to make loud noises to scare bears away from their homes
b. Benefits
· Bears will most likely not be harmed
· Citizens can do it, not much law enforcement
c. Cons
· Citizens could "accidentally" harm bears
· Bear could turn on aversive conditioner
3. Habitat Management
a. Details
· Organize volunteer organizations
· Plant native berry and nut producing vegetation
· Removing berry and nut producing vegetation from populated areas
· Clearing heavily wooded areas to promote undergrowth
b. Benefits
· Can use volunteers
· Is positive not negative
· Promotes wellness of bear population
c. Cons
· Vegetation may not adapt well
· Would need lots of volunteer hours
1. Seasonal Garbage Law Enforcement
a. Details
· It will be illegal for citizens to put garbage out the night before garbage collection
· This law will only apply during the months of August1st - November 30th
· This law will be enforced by the Division of Wildlife with fines up to $500 for violation.
· First time offenders will be fined $200
· Neighbors of perpetrators will be encouraged to alert authorities.
· Send letters to citizens
· Put a notice in bills
b. Benefits
· Bears will have less access to garbage in the city
· This may result in less bears coming into town
c. Cons
· Offenders might not always be caught
· Enforcers of the law would be limited
2. Aversive Conditioning
a. Details
· A formal aversive conditioning program will be established and implemented in La Plata County.
· Have citizens who own guns, shoot bears with rubber bullets
· Encourage citizens with bird feeders and other food sources to stow them away at night
· Encourage home owners to make loud noises to scare bears away from their homes
b. Benefits
· Bears will most likely not be harmed
· Citizens can do it, not much law enforcement
c. Cons
· Citizens could "accidentally" harm bears
· Bear could turn on aversive conditioner
3. Habitat Management
a. Details
· Organize volunteer organizations
· Plant native berry and nut producing vegetation
· Removing berry and nut producing vegetation from populated areas
· Clearing heavily wooded areas to promote undergrowth
b. Benefits
· Can use volunteers
· Is positive not negative
· Promotes wellness of bear population
c. Cons
· Vegetation may not adapt well
· Would need lots of volunteer hours