P R O C L A M A T I O N

Be Bear Smart Month / May 2013

 

WHEREAS,  it is the responsibility of all Durango residents to reduce human and bear conflict by eliminating human-food sources that attract bears; and

WHEREAS,  allowing bears to have access to garbage, bird feeders and the like, brings the undesired consequence of threatened public safety and in the end, results in the relocation or killing of bears; and

WHEREAS,  to bring attention to the start of another bear season and ways to prevent conflicts with bears, citizens, businesses, local, state and federal governmental agencies, law enforcement agencies, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and volunteers have joined together to celebrate Be Bear Smart Month; and

WHEREAS,  acknowledging and participating in Be Bear Smart Month is one way community leaders and citizens can help raise awareness about the need to keep human foods away from bears; and

WHEREAS,  eliminating conflict with bears requires the entire community’s involvement in keeping wild bears wild; and

WHEREAS,  we encourage all citizens to pledge to start or continue Bear Smart habits and efforts; and

WHEREAS,  as part of Be Bear Smart Month, residents and community leaders are invited to attend the second annual Spring Bear Wake-Up Social on May 8 from 4-8 P.M. at the Durango Discovery Museum to learn best practices in preventing human-bear conflict.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas W. Lyon, Mayor of the City of Durango, do hereby proclaim the month of May, as

 

BE BEAR SMART MONTH

 

and encourage the citizens of Durango to take an active role in changing human behavior to reduce human/bear conflict and to help protect this segment of our wildlife population that we are fortunate to enjoy in this area.

 

CITY OF DURANGO

 

 

___________________________                                                                  

Douglas W. Lyon

Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

___________________________

Amy Phillips

City Clerk