From Deseret News archives:
Colorado hopes bears hibernate soon to end encounters with humans
Officials say the toll could go higher. With temperatures as much as 10 degrees above average this fall, some bears are still hanging around towns in search of food instead of getting comfortable inside their winter dens.
That could lead to more confrontations and more cases of bears being put down.
The previous record number of nuisance bears killed in Colorado was 55, in 2002.
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and other Western states are also experiencing more conflicts, with weather a factor in many cases. A bear killed an 11-year-old boy at a Utah campground in June.
One factor behind increased bear-human conflicts in the West is population growth, with more people moving into bear habitat. In Colorado, it's common to see television news footage of bears climbing into backyard trees.
Shortages of bears' natural food make things worse. Without enough to eat, bears often scavenge in garbage containers and sometimes even enter houses in search of food.
Wildlife managers have been working with communities to avoid creating attractions for bears, especially open trash cans.
But less snow during winter also is causing bears to delay hibernation, increasing bear-human conflicts, said Tom Palmer of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.
The Yellowstone region also has seen at least seven attacks on humans this year by grizzlies. No one has been killed, but some of the maulings caused serious injuries. In two cases, the attacking grizzlies were killed by hunters.
Notwithstanding widespread publicity over the maulings, state and park officials have said the number of attacks this year still fall within the normal range for grizzly run-ins. The federal government has decided the grizzly to many people, a symbol of the West is thriving and can be taken off the federal endangered species list.
Comments
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101
I'm not sure TCU will dominate in every way. For example, I think TCU...
critical of Sloan and the FO. He is finally forced into making some changes....
It isn't just the line up, we need to get a couple hard nosed players in here...
The real question is are non-Mormons assimilating in Utah. Doesn't seem so....
People think that using 3 officials means more fouls and violations...
That many on here are using the same logic that all posters were so upset...
so the uber right-wing Eagle-Forum nut jobs are going to further polarize...
Oh my, this is something out of a horror novel. Our worst and darkest...
Boozer and Okur together WILL NEVER WIN ANYTHING. Those two together...
tears for fears

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