‘Bloated’ bear couldn’t stop chowing on garbage. Now photos show its massive size
CLARIFICATION: Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Thursday, July 20, corrected an earlier tweet about which county the bear was spotted in. The bear was seen in Manitou Springs in El Paso County, not Teller County.
The original story is below.
A black bear couldn’t stop eating garbage in Colorado.
Now it’s massive and “bloated.”
The bear was spotted by Brandie Harlow in Manitou Springs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a Tuesday, July 18, Twitter post.
“It’s a garbage bear. It has gorged itself on human food waste,” wildlife officials said in the tweet.
One photo shows the large bear dumpster diving with trash in its mouth. Others show the bear chomping on garbage in a wooded area.
The recent bear sighting prompted wildlife officials to remind the public to be “bear aware.”
Bears will continue to return to an area if they find food, officials said. This includes near campgrounds, homes and vehicles.
It’s not healthy for bears to eat human food or garbage, officials said.
A healthy bear’s diet includes “90% grasses, fruits, nuts and plants with occasional meat.”
Officials said a bear will be killed if it becomes “aggressive” while trying to find food.
“Every time we’re forced to destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that loses,” officials said. “We all lose a little piece of the wildness that makes Colorado so special.”
Manitou Springs is about 5 miles northwest of Colorado Springs.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 10:43 AM with the headline "‘Bloated’ bear couldn’t stop chowing on garbage. Now photos show its massive size."
