Press Release
The City of Aspen urges the community to secure attractants during peak bear activity season
Aspen, CO – The city of Aspen is urging residents, businesses and visitors to secure trash, food and other wildlife attractants as black bears enter hyperphagia, a period when they spend much of their time searching for food before winter. The city recorded 388 bear trash intrusions from Jan. 1 through Aug. 19, compared to 167 during the same period in 2025 and 91 during the same period in 2024. The City is also seeing an increase in bears entering homes this summer.
Low mountain snowpack, drought and wildfire impacts have reduced natural food sources in parts of Colorado, pushing bears into neighborhoods in search of easy calories from unsecured trash, birdseed, pet food and grills. Securing attractants remains one of the most effective ways to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife. “While it is extremely difficult to see bears so desperate for food, please don't feed them. That will lead to exponential challenges for bears and humans in the future,” says Wildlife Coordinator Lara Xaiz
To help prevent bear conflicts, the city encourages all community members to take the following precautions:
Store trash, animal feed and other attractants in wildlife-resistant containers and keep lids securely latched. Never leave food scraps, animalfeedor other attractants outside or in unsecured locations.
Feed pets indoors whenever possible. If feeding outdoors, remove food and bowlsimmediatelyafterpetsfinish eating.
Clean grills after every use by burning off grease and food residue. When possible, store grills inside a garage or shed.
Keep windows and doors closed and latched, especially at night and when homes are unoccupied.Bears can climb trees,fencesand decks to access windows and other openings. Bears can easily break through screens and pry open windows that are not latched. Garage doors, exterior doors, and accessible windows should remain secure when not in use.
Never feed or approach bears. Feeding wildlife is illegal and can cause bears to lose their natural fear of people and seek food in neighborhoods.
If a bear enters your home, leaveimmediatelyif it is safe to do so and call 911. Do not corner, chase, orconfront the bear. If possible, provide the bear with a clear path to exit and remain outside until wildlife officers confirm the bear has left.
"Small actions can make a big difference for both bears and our community," says Xaiz. "When bears find easy access to human food sources, they're more likely to return to neighborhoods and homes. By securing attractants, we can help keep bears wild and reduce the likelihood of negative encounters.
Wildlife resistant trash containers are required in Aspen and must remain securely latched. Trash, compost, and recycling should be properly separated and stored in designated containers, and containers should not be overfilled. Visit the city of Aspen's trash ordinance for more information.
City Wildlife officials have issued 19 citations and tagged hundreds of containers with warnings to date. These efforts are intended to educate residents and businesses and help prevent bear intrusions by addressing trash storage issues. As these issues continue, the City will move toward progressive enforcement. This means violations may progress from warnings to citations and fines, with additional enforcement actions for continued noncompliance.
The city has bear resistant trash cans to give away or loan out as needed. They can also loan electric mats when there are signs that a bear has tried to enter a building. To request these resources, contact the City’s Wildlife Coordinator.
For more information about the City’s Wildlife Program or to report a bear concern, call 970-920-BEAR (2327) or email [email protected]. for emergencies call 911.
For more information, please contact: Lara Xaiz, Wildlife Coordinator
Phone: 970-319-0089
Email: [email protected]
Mariela Hale, Digital Communications Coordinator Phone: 970.309.9959
Email: [email protected]