Bear cub killed in Jefferson County after a dumpster tipped over on it

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Colorado Parks and Wildlife want to remind you to always secure your dumpster after a 30-pound bear cub was killed after a dumpster tipped over and crushed it in Jefferson County Monday morning.

While this is a highly unusual situation, Parks and Wildlife said it shows how deadly it can be to bears.

Parks and Wildlife said dumpsters should always be secured so a bear can't get inside and placed on solid, flat ground where it does not present a danger to people or wildlife.

Allowing bears to use trash and garbage as a food source creates serious problems for both people and bears because bears are willing to work hard to get at trash and garbage, and return often in hopes of finding more, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.

They recommend you:

• keep trash and recyclables safely locked inside your home or a sturdy, locked garage or outbuilding constructed of heavy wood or metal.
• don’t leave any trash outside overnight; even empty bottles, cans, packages and recyclables have odors that attract bears.
• don’t store trash on your deck or screened-in porch, and don’t stash your trash in your car, truck or camper.
• if you keep trash in your garage or an outbuilding, it should have sturdy doors and windows that lock.
• put trash out the morning of pick up only.

Colorado Springs City Council is considering a new ordinance that would require anyone living west of I-25 to either use bear proof garbage cans or keep their garbage secured inside until 5:00 a.m. on their garbage day.

"It's a hard one, said Colorado Springs City Council, President, Richard Skorman, “You know we don't want to be too prescriptive as a government, but a lot of communities have required bear proof garbage cans.”

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