be bear aware - colorado parks and wildlife · if you do meet a bear, what should you do? stay...

Be BearAware

in Colorado Bear Country

If you live in the foothills andmountains of Colorado, you live inbear country!

Usually people and bearscan share the samespace without problems,but not always.

If you hike andcamp in Colorado,chances areyou’ve visitedplaces wherebears live, too.

Let’s learn moreabout bears, andsee what we can doto keep people andbears safe.

There are many different kinds ofbears in the world.

There are 3 different kinds of bears in North America: the polarbear, the brown or grizzly bear, and the American black bear.

Circle the bears you might see in North America.Circle the bears you might see in North America.Circle the bears you might see in North America.Circle the bears you might see in North America.Circle the bears you might see in North America.

Sun bear

Sloth bear

Asiaticblack bear

Polar bear

Colorado is home to theAmerican black bear.

Put a star byPut a star byPut a star byPut a star byPut a star bythe Americanthe Americanthe Americanthe Americanthe Americanblack bear!black bear!black bear!black bear!black bear!

Panda Spectacled bear

Grizzly orbrown bear American

black bear

What are black bears like?

Bears do not see well.They have weak________.

Bears have long, sharp______________ whichare good for digging andscratching.

Bears have powerful_________________and some can run veryfast.

Bears have strongjaws and sharp______________.

Bears have verysensitive__________and a keen senseof smell.

Bears havesmall _________,but their hearing isvery good.

Use these words to fill in the blanks:Use these words to fill in the blanks:Use these words to fill in the blanks:Use these words to fill in the blanks:Use these words to fill in the blanks:

claws ears eyes legs noses teeth

Did you know?Not all black bears are black!Some are light brown, or dark brown with a light face. Some arethe color of cinnamon, and some are almost white!

Color each of these bearsColor each of these bearsColor each of these bearsColor each of these bearsColor each of these bearsa different color.a different color.a different color.a different color.a different color.It’s still a black bear!

What do people like to do outdoors?

Color your favorite activities.Color your favorite activities.Color your favorite activities.Color your favorite activities.Color your favorite activities.

What do bears do outdoors?

Sometimes when bears and people try to do things in thesame place, there can be trouble.

Bears searching for food or shelter can cause damage tohomes and property, and can even hurt people.

There are many things people can do to preventproblems with bears. Can you guess which things inthe campsite and the yard might attract bears?

Circle the things you could change to make thecampsite and the yard safer for people and bears.

If a bear damages property awildlife officer might need to trapit and move it somewhere else.

When this happens, the officermust put a tag on the bear’s earto mark it as a bear in trouble.

But where can the bear be moved?There are a lot of people living inthe same places bears like.

If a bear with an ear tag gets in troublea second time, the law says that wildlifeofficers have to kill it.

It’s a part of their job they don’t like at all.

So what can wedo to keeppeople andbears safe?

How can we keep abear from getting anear tag?

Bear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsat home:at home:at home:at home:at home:1) Store pet food and bird-seed in airtight containers inyour garage or a locked shed.

2) Bring your pet’s food andwater bowls in at night.

3) Keep your garbage out ofsight and smell of bears. Usebearproof containers anddon’t put your trash out untilnearly time for pickup.

4) Keep your barbeque grillclean of smells.

Remember that fruit treesand berry bushes in youryard can attract bears.

Bear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsBear Aware tipsBear Aware tipswhen camping orwhen camping orwhen camping orwhen camping orwhen camping orhiking:hiking:hiking:hiking:hiking:1) Keep your camp clean

2) Store food and otherscented items like shampooin airtight containers awayfrom your campsite.

3) You can hang your food ina cooler at least ten feet offthe ground where bears can’treach it.

4) Pack out your trash when youleave, don’t bury it.

5) Have your sleeping area awayfrom where you cook and don’tkeep any food in your tent.

6) Do not hike alone, and makenoise on the trail so you do notsurprise a bear.

7) Do not store food in your carwhen you are camping. A bearcan break in to a vehicle.

Some cool facts about black bears:- Bears have a good sense of smell. They can smell a person as much as a mileaway and detect the smell of food on clothing that has been carried in abackpack with food.

- About 90 percent of a black bear’s diet is plants. Much of the meat theyeat is insects and carrion (dead animals).

- Black bears mate in May and June, but the embryo does not implant in thefemale’s uterus until the she enters the hibernation den in November.

- Cubs are born in mid-January or February during hibernation. The motherbear nurses her cubs, although she does not resume eating or drinking untilafter leaving the den in late April orearly May.

- During late summer and fall months,when bears are storing fat for thewinter, a bear can eat as much as20,000 calories a day!

- Hibernating bears may go more than200 days without eating, drinking,urinating, or defecating.

- Even though they are inactive duringhibernation, bears don’t lose muscle.Astronauts who spend a long time inspace without much exercise DO losemuscle and get very weak. Some scien-tists hope that by studying bears theycan learn how to help people who travelin space.

If you do meet a bear,what should you do?

Stay calm! Do not turnand run. If you do, thebear might chase you.

The bear may come closer to get a better look atyou. Bears have poor eyesight. The bear may alsostand up or walk around you to get your scent.

Help the bear figureout what you are.Talk in a normal voiceand wave your armsSLOWLY.

Nice bear.... easy bear....

Try to give the bearroom to get away.

Back away slowly if you can.

Always face the bear. Keep talking softly.

Remember!Remember!Remember!Remember!Remember!Do not turn and run.Do not turn and run.Do not turn and run.Do not turn and run.Do not turn and run.

Leave cubs alone!

The mother bear is probably nearby andshe will want to keep her cubs safe.

If you approach a cub,you will make her angry!

If a black bearattacks you, usesticks, rocks, orother objects tofight back.

Fill in the missing wordsFillin the boxes below with the missing words. Use the numbers to guide you.

1. The only species of bear in Colorado is the __________ bear.

2. When you hike, talk, sing, and make ____________.

3. Black bears can be black, ____________, cinnamon or even white.

4. Bears have poor ________________

5. Bears have small ___________, but they can hear well.

6. If you meet a bear, don’t _________.

7. In Colorado, a bear in trouble with people has to wear an ear ________.

8. You should stay____________ from bearcubs.

9. To help keep bears out oftrouble, put your______________ out ofsight and smell of bears.

10. You can also help bybringing your pet’s food and_________ bowls in atnight.

11. When you are camping,you can help by keeping yourcamp ___________.

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Bears are smartand interestinganimals.

Learn more aboutbears, and sharewhat you knowwith your friendsand family.

Here are someways to learnmore aboutbears:

- Contact a wildlife officer at the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

- Visit these websites: bebearaware.org, wildlife.state.co.us

- Stop at visitor centers and information displays

- Visit the library in your town or school for books, CDs,and videos about bears.

- Look in bookstores for books about bears.

- Ask your parents and teachers to help you learn about bears.

Colorado Division of Wildlife HeadquartersColorado Division of Wildlife HeadquartersColorado Division of Wildlife HeadquartersColorado Division of Wildlife HeadquartersColorado Division of Wildlife Headquarters6060 BroadwayDenver, Colorado, 80216(303)297-1192ÊÊ(M-F 8am-5pm MST)ÊRegional Offices/Service CentersRegional Offices/Service CentersRegional Offices/Service CentersRegional Offices/Service CentersRegional Offices/Service Centers

Denver Service Center andNortheast Region OfficeÊÊ 6060 BroadwayÊÊ Denver, CO 80216ÊÊ (303)291-7227ÊSoutheast Region Service CenterÊÊ 4255 Sinton RdÊÊ Colorado Springs, CO 80907ÊÊ (719)227-5200ÊFort Collins Service CenterÊÊ 317 W. ProspectÊÊ Fort Collins, CO 80526ÊÊ (970)472-4300ÊNorthwest Region Service CenterÊÊ 711 IndependentÊÊ Grand Junction, CO 81505ÊÊ (970)255-6100

Southwest Region Service CenterÊÊ 151 East 16th StreetÊÊ Durango, CO 81301ÊÊ (970)247-0855

For more contact information, check outwww.wildlife.state.co.us