There are so many ways to be Bear Smart! Following are quick links addressing commonly asked questions and resources available to residents in helping make our community safe for both people and bears.
Residents are encouraged to report bear sightings and incidents, including bears accessing trash, by calling the LPC Bear Hotline at (970) 247-BEAR (2327).
MITIGATING CONFLICT
All local waste haulers offer fully-automated residential bear-resistant trash containers. All but Phoenix Recycling offer commercial bear-resistant dumpsters. Click here to learn more about trash solutions and obtaining bear-resistant trash containers.
FRUIT GLEANINGTo list fruit trees for gleaning, locate excess fruit, reduce waste, and to feed the community and not bears, contact the Good Food Collective at (970) 403-5347 or visit their website:
Visit The Good Food Collective
Bear Smart Durango offers financial assistance and help with design and installation of small-scale backyard electric fencing systems for chicken coops, beehives, compost and more. Contact us to see if you qualify.
Electric Fencing Program
The LPC Animal Protection Bear Resource Officer can deliver mitigation materials including electric unwelcome mats, temporary electric netting and scare devices. Connect by calling the LPC Bear Hotline at (970) 247-BEAR (2327).
GET BEAR SPRAYBear spray is available locally at Backcountry Experience, Gardenswartz, Goods for the Woods and WalMart. Be sure to purchase EPA-certified bear spray. Scatbelts are available at Backcountry Experience and you can return expired canisters there as well.
COMPOSTING SERVICESTable to Farm Compost offers curbside collection of compostable materials. Contact them at (970) 601-3113 or visit their website:
Table To Farm's Website
View a current list of the products on the IGBC list of certified bear-resistant products:
View List
WILDLIFE ORDINANCES
Both La Plata County and the City of Durango have laws requiring the proper storage of trash so as to not allow for the feeding of bears and other wildlife. View the City of Durango and La Plata County ordinances pertaining to the storage of trash and wildlife. Both are more effective when residents report incidents of trash accessed by bears. Residents are asked to immediately report incidents of trash accessed by bears to the LPC Bear Hotline at (970) 247-BEAR (2327).
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES & PRINTED MATERIALS
Bear Smart Durango has a number of informational printed materials, fliers, and guides available in PDF format that you can download.
(COMING SOON.)
BE BEAR SMART VIDEOS
Please note that these were made prior to the creation of the LPC Bear Hotline. Residents are encouraged to report bear sightings and incidents, including bears accessing trash, by calling the LPC Bear Hotline at (970) 247-BEAR (2327).
BEAR SMART SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES
Following a tragic incident here in 2021, Bear Smart Durango partnered with The Durango Herald and Sagebrush, Ltd. on a series of online presentations by bear experts on being safe in bear country and more.
Other Resources