In many mountain towns the bruins are rambling through neighborhoods and scrounging through garbage. A bear recently mangled the cover of a hot tub outside a home.

Vail police officers fired rubber bullets at a bear gorging on garbage at an apartment complex last week.

Wildlife officers have received 10 calls from Avon, Colo., residents about bears in the past two weeks, said Bill Andree, state Division of Wildlife district manager.

"They're definitely back and they're busy," he said.

Trash left outside probably drew a bear to the Vail house where the hot tub cover was mangled, said property manager Frank McKibben.

"I think the town needs an ordinance about the proper storage and placement of trash," he said.

Wildlife officers have been warning Coloradans to make sure there's no food or trash outside to attract bears, which are emerging from hibernation.

Bears have been known to break through screen doors and slide open sliding glass doors to get at food, said Avon police Sgt. Bernie McGovern.

Aspen has an ordinance that prohibits leaving unsecured, edible garbage outside. The city recently ticketed three restaurants, a trash hauler and a resident for not locking up their garbage.

Andree said when confronted with people, black bears will usually run away if they're not cornered.

Under state policy, a bear is relocated the first time it makes trouble. The second time, it is killed.

More than 100 black bears that roamed into populated areas last year were killed.

Previous Stories:

• April 30, 2001: Bears Coming Out Of Hibernation
• April 2, 2001: Watch Out For Bears, Wildlife Officials Warn

Additional Resources:

• Living In Bear Country
• Black Bear Page