La Plata County residents and bears have long been engaged in an awkward dance. Revered by some as hallowed symbols of wilderness, bears are despised by others for rambling through neighborhoods creating chaos. We soon develop a “love-them-and-loathe-them” relationship from the ongoing conflict. Our conflicts with black bears are not likely to go away soon.

Recently, numerous local conflicts have residents searching for “reasonable” explanations: Why are bears in town? Is it too dry? Did a freeze destroy their natural food? Why did Colorado Division of Wildlife officers euthanize that bear?

While some residents are loathe to hear it, I think the most reasonable explanation is simply that we live in prime black bear habitat. Bears are here to stay. But small changes in our behavior are necessary and can go a long way to reducing bear-human conflicts and the consequent need for the DOW to ear tag, relocate or euthanize bears.

Read more at the Durango Herald