Bear Smart Durango

Since 2003, Bear Smart Durango has focused on preventing human and bear conflict from happening in the first place with the goal of keeping people safe and allowing bears to thrive in their natural environments.

Our efforts are focused on educating the public on living in bear country, reducing the amount of human foods available to bears, striving to have meaningful policies in place,  and providing resources, tools and practical solutions in preventing and resolving human-bear conflict.

THE NEED

In 2025, La Plata County led all Colorado counties in total bear reports, incidents of trash accessed by bears, chicken and domestic fruit tree incidents, and number of bears relocated and euthanized. 53 bears died in human-caused mortality. State wildlife officials relocated 22 bears, euthanized 19 and sent 13 orphaned cubs to a rehabilitation facility.

          •   24% of bears euthanized statewide were euthanized here

          •   42% of bear relocations across the state occurred here

We believe our community can do better.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

First, make sure you have nothing on your property that would entice a bear that isn't locked down or secured. Talk to your neighbors about what they can do to help keep your neighborhood safe. Report bear activity to the Bear Smart Bear Hotline at 970-247-BEAR. Demand better from your elected officials. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Bear season lasts about eight months, but our work continues year-round. Monthly donations are an easy and powerful way to sustain causes you care about - like keeping people and bears safe in our community.  

We are proud having Onward! A Legacy Foundation serving as a our fiscal sponsor.