Aspen Parks and Open Space

10/04/2026

Please take a moment to read, great lessons from BearWise!

How to Safely Scare a Bear...

What should you do if you discover a bear close to your home or hanging around someplace not safe for bears?

In the great outdoors, the guideline is to leave bears alone. But around our homes and communities, the most BearWise thing you can do is teach the bear it is not welcome.

Bears typically avoid people whenever possible, but easy access to garbage, bird seed, pet food and other food sources can attract bears.

Scaring the bear can temporarily stop unwanted behavior and give you time to remove or secure attractants such as food, trash, recycling, BBQ grills, pet food, compost, birdseed, and more.

4 Safe Ways to Scare a Bear:
1 - Assert your dominance
2 – Make noise
3 – Shoot paintballs
4 – Use motion-activated Devices

6 BearWise® Hazing Rules:
1 – Never approach, corner or chase the bear.
2 – Stand in a safe place (bring kids and dogs inside).
3 – Be sure the bear has an escape route, away from you.
4 – Stop hazing when the bear runs away or climbs a tree.
5 – If the bear approaches, do not run. Use bear spray.
6 – Be careful. Any hazing is done at your own risk.

Learn how to safely scare (haze) a bear and keep them from coming back: bearwise.org/keep-bears-out/scare-the-bear

Thanks for being BearWise and helping keep bears wild.

10/02/2026

Colorado’s bears are hungry. That does not mean you should feed them.

Right now bears are looking to pack on the calories ahead of winter –– and those calories need to come from their natural, wild food sources. The historic drought is having an impact on their naturally available food sources, but wild bears need wild food. Not people food. Or even “wild” food courtesy of people.

They need wild food they get on their own.

Bears, people and food do not mix well. We understand concern for our state’s wildlife and this is a unique year, but supplemental feeding of bears is illegal, dangerous and does much more harm than good in both the short and long term.

Feeding bears teaches them to become less wary of humans, which can be dangerous. It also ruins their natural instincts of how to forage and prepare for winter on their own, which can hurt them this year, and well into the future.

This also doesn’t just apply to your backyard. This goes for the backcountry as well. Bears are incredibly adept at noticing an increase in human activity in the woods. If that activity is associated with an easy meal, those bears will seek out more human activity (like going to the nearest town) rather than staying in the backcountry.

The list of reasons to not feed bears goes on. Don’t be the reason a bear loses the “wild” part of being wildlife. Their instincts have been sharpened over thousands of years. Do not be the one who ruins them –– choose to be part of the solution and preserve those instincts.

To learn more please visit our website: https://cpw.state.co.us/news/08282026/editorial-want-help-starving-bears-dont-feed-them

09/22/2026

Normally we ask folks to take pumpkins inside at night. This year bears are eating them during the day. Please secure your attractants at all times day and night.

08/31/2026

Just putting this reminder out there. This is a tough year for all wildlife.

Home News Releases EDITORIAL: Want to help starving bears? Don't feed them. EDITORIAL: Want to help starving bears? Don't feed them. Statewide Share: John Livingston Southwest Region Public Information Officer 970-759-9590 / [email protected] EDITORIAL: Want to help starving bears?...

08/05/2026

Across Colorado, dire drought conditions are giving rise to reports of bear activity and conflict. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported a 68% increase in bear reports over last year for the first seven months of...

07/30/2026

Bears are out and looking for food. They are very curious and will sometimes enter cars and homes looking for food. Roll your windows up and lock the doors to your car, close and latch all lower-level windows on your home, and lock the doors to your homes. As bears receive food rewards from humans they may escalate their attempts at getting more. The bear that broke through this garage door likely didn't start with garage doors. It usually starts with unsecured trash, maybe some birdseed, perhaps it was attracted to the home by smelly BBQ grills. Once they are comfortable around homes they will look for an open door, or window for their first entry. Eventually some will resort to breaking through doors and windows to get another tub of delicious ice cream from the freezer. Don't be the person to provide food rewards to bears, secure your trash (your garage or secure shed is the best place to store waste) remove birdfeeders when bears are active, keep your BBQ grills clean, report problems early so we can help change human behaviors. Call us at (970)920-BEAR or email us at [email protected]

06/29/2026

We had a fantastic kickoff to summer celebrating Arbor Day at Paepcke Park! The community came out to pick up free trees with guidance and support from our Head of Forestry, enjoyed hot dogs and lemonade, and explored booths hosted by local vendors. Bucket truck rides gave visitors a whole new view of the park—and, of course, the celebration wouldn’t be complete without a surprise appearance from a friendly bear, who even took a bucket truck ride of his own!
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Arbor Day with the City of Aspen! We look forward to seeing you all next summer as we continue celebrating our urban forest and planting for the future. 🌲

06/11/2026

It's that time of year when we start receiving calls about baby deer and elk needing help. Mother's will leave their babies so they can feed nearby. Newborns can't keep up with their mothers, so they stay put until mom comes back to nurse them. This is normal. Please don't touch, move, or gather around young wildlife.

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

Bears are always looking for food... even during your vacation! Bears have noses that can smell lunch from a mile away and the taste buds of the average two-year old; they’ll eat just about anything, including stuff that’s not even food. Some simple precautions will keep bears out of your vehicle, your home away from home and your garbage, leftovers and picnic lunch.

Bears are attracted to trash because it smells great (to a bear) and is usually full of food. Dispose of your trash in a secure container and don’t forget to close and latch the lid. Bears can open unlatched lids with a flip of the paw. Resist the temptation to leave your trash piled up next to a dumpster or in your vehicle overnight. Take it with you or keep it inside a cabin until you can dispose of it properly.

Get more BearWise vacation tips by visiting our page: bearwise.org/vacationing-in-bear-country-what-to-know-before-you-go

Get BearWise. Have a fun vacation. Keep bears wild. Go home happy.

Learn About Bears: BearWise.org