tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17548084.post115492689767487596..comments2024-03-28T00:26:20.590-07:00Comments on out there: Bear storiesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17548084.post-1155009892190995532006-08-07T21:04:00.000-07:002006-08-07T21:04:00.000-07:00Frank Landis over at the Forest Service told me th...Frank Landis over at the Forest Service told me that, "This<BR/>has been the worst year I can recall in my 14 years here on [Pikes Peak ranger] district for<BR/>bears."<BR/><BR/>On July 18, 2006 Vail enacted an emergency ordinance radically increasing maximum allowable fines (up to $999 and 180 days in jail for a first offense) for improperly stored trash, or placing trash out the night before pickup after wildlife officials were forced to destroy 2 habituated bears in the area. See http://ci.vail.co.us/release.asp?nr_id=2764&type=0. for details.<BR/><BR/>Like many mountain communities, Woodland Park also has an ordinance on the books that requires residents to secure trash in a way that prevents attraction of wildlife, but considering that we haven't had a code enforcement officer on city staff for well over a year (planning pulls double duty), there is little if any enforcement.<BR/><BR/>How sad that it might take a human encounter leading to injury or death before people take this threat - to bear and human alike - seriously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com