ASPEN BEAR PROBLEM: Hunters Sought Out To Trim Aspen’s Out-Of-Control Bear Population
If you don’t hunt the bears … the bears become emboldened. Duh. Check it out…
Last month the US Forest Service closed down 11 campsites at Crater Lake near Aspen. The closure came after increased reports of bears destroying tents and stealing food. It was not too long ago when drought conditions and few food sources drove bears into the City of Aspen, causing a record 1,040 bear conflict calls in 2012. To avoid a repeat of the crisis two years ago, state wildlife officials have increased the number of bear tags offered to hunters over the past few years, and are considering offering more.
“There’s a lot of people out there that want to hunt bears,” Kevin Wright, district wildlife manage with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the Aspen Times. “We’re hoping over time that can help. We’re trying to suppress the population, so we’ve got more licenses out there.”
The agency originally considered hiring sharpshooters to cull the bear population, but decided against it.
Read more: Outdoor Hub
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