Bears starting to emerge in Colorado Springs [Video]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Bears are emerging from hibernation in Colorado Springs now that warmer weather has moved in.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said they got reports of 3,526 bear sightings and conflicts in 2023, which is down 21 percent from the average number of reports they got from 2019 to 2023.

“90% of their diet is going to be plants, berries, grasses, natural things so when we have nice wet years like we had last year, they’re going to stay up in their natural habitat,” District Wildlife Manager Demetria McDowell said.

She said when bears do venture into populated areas, they’re following their nose to find food.

“Make sure that your trash is secured, make sure you’re not putting attractants on your property that a bear would want to come and visit,” McDowell said. “Bears have an extremely strong sense of smell. It’s 100 times that of a human so in essence they can smell food …