Colorado Warns: Bears Love Your Bird Feeders More Than the Birds Do

This could be a bummer, to not have your bird feeder out, but it would be an even bigger bummer if things go 'wild.'

The last thing any Coloradan would want is to have their way of helping nature (while getting a good view of nature,) turn into a dangerous situation. The Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife has seen more than its share of problems with bird feeders and hummingbird feeders.

RELATED: COLORADO BEARS 'TEST' BEAR-RESISTANT TRASH CAN

Between 2019-2021 there were nearly 1,100 incidents/conflicts between bears and humans because of bird feeders and hummingbird feeders. How scary would it be to have a hungry bear in your backyard instead of a delicate little bird? I forget whether that's 'irony' or just bad luck. Either way, I wouldn't want to be unnecessarily tempting hungry bears.

The thing is, during the spring, summer, and even fall, birds don't even need humans to help them with food with bird feeders; there's plenty of food for them to get, naturally.

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Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife lists 'taking down your bird feeders and hummingbird feeders' as just one way of preventing bear/human conflicts.

OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT BEAR/HUMAN CONFLICTS IN COLORADO:

• Keep you garbage in a well secured enclosure.
• Only bring you garbage out for pickup in the morning, bring the cans back in before dusk.
• Get a bear-resistant trash can.
• Clean trash cans of odor, regularly.
• Don't keep any pet food outside.
• Clean you BBQ grills.
• Don't leave food wrappers, candy, gum, snacks, or scented hand lotions in your vehicle. Keep your vehicle locked.
• Buy an air horn or bear spray -- to help 'haze' the bear away if one approaches.