{"id":2445991,"date":"2019-07-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-04T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=308914"},"modified":"2019-07-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-04T06:00:00","slug":"aspens-trashy-ways-in-the-downtown-core-are-killing-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/aspens-trashy-ways-in-the-downtown-core-are-killing-bears\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspen\u2019s trashy ways in the downtown core are killing bears"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9391507856904\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-308914-486\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Bears have been getting in trash behind the Pitkin County Library for years until recently when government officials replaced unsecured cans with dumpsters that can only be unlocked with a key.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Bears have been getting in trash behind the Pitkin County Library for years until recently when government officials replaced unsecured cans with dumpsters that can only be unlocked with a key.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1.jpg\" alt=\"Bears have been getting in trash behind the Pitkin County Library for years until recently when government officials replaced unsecured cans with dumpsters that can only be unlocked with a key.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | A bear got into the trash in front of Taster's Pizza this past spring.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A bear got into the trash in front of Taster&#8217;s Pizza this past spring.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"A bear got into the trash in front of Taster's Pizza this past spring.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | A recycling can with unrinsed items in it was knocked over by a bear between Durant Street and Cooper Avenue late last month.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A recycling can with unrinsed items in it was knocked over by a bear between Durant Street and Cooper Avenue late last month.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"A recycling can with unrinsed items in it was knocked over by a bear between Durant Street and Cooper Avenue late last month.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | A bear got into an unsecured trash can located in an alley between Hyman Avenue and Cooper Street in the early morning hours in late June.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A bear got into an unsecured trash can located in an alley between Hyman Avenue and Cooper Street in the early morning hours in late June.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-3.jpg\" alt=\"A bear got into an unsecured trash can located in an alley between Hyman Avenue and Cooper Street in the early morning hours in late June.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Aspen Police Department's community response officers see a lot of\" dumpsters downtown commercial core in which unauthorized individuals leave their on top of other dumpsters. the end result is bears into that trash and getting habituated to human class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Aspen Police Department&#8217;s community response officers see a lot of &#8220;poaching&#8221; of dumpsters in the downtown commercial core in which unauthorized individuals leave their trash on top of other people&#8217;s dumpsters. The end result is bears getting into that trash and getting habituated to human food.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-4.jpg\" alt=\"Aspen Police Department's community response officers see a lot of \" dumpsters downtown commercial core in which unauthorized individuals leave their on top of other dumpsters. the end result is bears into that trash and getting habituated to human><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | A residential trash can was knocked over by a bear in an alley in downtown Aspen one early June morning.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A residential trash can was knocked over by a bear in an alley in downtown Aspen one early June morning.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-5.jpg\" alt=\"A residential trash can was knocked over by a bear in an alley in downtown Aspen one early June morning.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Leaving unlocked trash open for bears to break in to is against the law in the city of Aspen. The first offense is $250.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Leaving unlocked trash open for bears to break in to is against the law in the city of Aspen. The first offense is $250.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-6.jpg\" alt=\"Leaving unlocked trash open for bears to break in to is against the law in the city of Aspen. The first offense is $250.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Unlocked trash from two businesses in the alley between Hopkins Avenue and Cooper Street is a violation of the city's solid waste ordinance and an attractant for bears.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Unlocked trash from two businesses in the alley between Hopkins Avenue and Cooper Street is a violation of the city&#8217;s solid waste ordinance and an attractant for bears.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-7.jpg\" alt=\"Unlocked trash from two businesses in the alley between Hopkins Avenue and Cooper Street is a violation of the city's solid waste ordinance and an attractant for bears.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | The trash can in the alley between the Cooper and Hyman avenue malls off of Galena Street is routinely knocked over and broken into by bears in the early morning hours.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>The trash can in the alley between the Cooper and Hyman avenue malls off of Galena Street is routinely knocked over and broken into by bears in the early morning hours.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-8.jpg\" alt=\"The trash can in the alley between the Cooper and Hyman avenue malls off of Galena Street is routinely knocked over and broken into by bears in the early morning hours.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | The compost container in the alley between Hyman and Hopkins avenue near multiple restaurants has been routinely left open in recent weeks. The business that is in charge of the container was fined last month for violating the city's trash ordinance because it's an attractant for bears.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>The compost container in the alley between Hyman and Hopkins avenue near multiple restaurants has been routinely left open in recent weeks. The business that is in charge of the container was fined last month for violating the city&#8217;s trash ordinance because it&#8217;s an attractant for bears.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-9.jpg\" alt=\"The compost container in the alley between Hyman and Hopkins avenue near multiple restaurants has been routinely left open in recent weeks. The business that is in charge of the container was fined last month for violating the city's trash ordinance because it's an attractant for bears.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-10.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Dumpsters left unlocked serve as an attractant for bears in the downtown core of Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Dumpsters left unlocked serve as an attractant for bears in the downtown core of Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-10.jpg\" alt=\"Dumpsters left unlocked serve as an attractant for bears in the downtown core of Aspen.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-11.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | The remnants of bears breaking into unsecured trash cans in downtown Aspen is part of the landscape in the early mornings of spring, summer and fall.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>The remnants of bears breaking into unsecured trash cans in downtown Aspen is part of the landscape in the early mornings of spring, summer and fall.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-11.jpg\" alt=\"The remnants of bears breaking into unsecured trash cans in downtown Aspen is part of the landscape in the early mornings of spring, summer and fall.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-12.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Leaving recycables unsecured is not a violation of the city's solid waste ordinance, but not rinsing the items can be an attractant for bears.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Leaving recycables unsecured is not a violation of the city&#8217;s solid waste ordinance, but not rinsing the items can be an attractant for bears.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-12.jpg\" alt=\"Leaving recycables unsecured is not a violation of the city's solid waste ordinance, but not rinsing the items can be an attractant for bears.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-13.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | A bear broke into an unsecured trash can behind a house on Hopkins Avenue in between Original Curve and Spring Street one early morning in June.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A bear broke into an unsecured trash can behind a house on Hopkins Avenue in between Original Curve and Spring Street one early morning in June.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-13.jpg\" alt=\"A bear broke into an unsecured trash can behind a house on Hopkins Avenue in between Original Curve and Spring Street one early morning in June.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-14-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-14.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Two unlocked trash cans in the alley off of Galena Street were broken into one morning in June.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Two unlocked trash cans in the alley off of Galena Street were broken into one morning in June.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-14.jpg\" alt=\"Two unlocked trash cans in the alley off of Galena Street were broken into one morning in June.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-15-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-15.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times | Uncleaned grease traps in the downtown core of Aspen can serve as attractants to bears.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Uncleaned grease traps in the downtown core of Aspen can serve as attractants to bears.<\/strong><br \/>Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/07\/Bears-atd-07XX19-1-15.jpg\" alt=\"Uncleaned grease traps in the downtown core of Aspen can serve as attractants to bears.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/aspens-trashy-ways-in-the-downtown-core-are-killing-bears\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/aspens-trashy-ways-in-the-downtown-core-are-killing-bears\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">On any given morning in downtown Aspen there are at least two garbage cans that have been ransacked by bears, and more often than not, it\u2019s several of them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In a months-long audit, The Aspen Times has found that local businesses are continually violating the city\u2019s aggressive trash ordinance, which requires that bear-resistant containers and compost cans be locked at all times of the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Patrols between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. in Aspen\u2019s commercial core in recent weeks show that many of them are not only unlocked but food has been placed on top of them, even next to stickers that read \u201cTrash kills bears.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Remnants of the previous day\u2019s food waste from restaurants \u2014 along with bear scat \u2014 line the alleys of Aspen in the early-morning hours, leaving it for trash haulers and property managers to pick up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">However, the city continues to issue a much higher percentage of warnings than citations as it continues to educate the business owners who are in violation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating that we are having the conversation over and over, year after year,\u201d Aspen Police Chief Richard Pryor said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Be warned before facing fines<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Dozens of violations have been witnessed this spring and summer, but as of June 28 only three citations had been issued by the Aspen Police Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The number of tickets issued in the past five years pale in comparison to the number of warnings that have been issued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Since 2015, the APD has issued 38 tickets to those who have violated the solid waste ordinance as it relates to bears and trash; warnings climb into the hundreds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Linda Consuegra, assistant police chief, said the department focuses on education and building working relationships with businesses before punitive measures are taken.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cYou have to look at the whole picture and listen to them,\u201d she said, adding businesses face challenges such as employee turnover and a lack of control over their dumpsters in the alley. \u201cIf it\u2019s excuse after excuse, then, yes, we will give them a ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Once a bear is habitualized to food through garbage, the less likely they are going to look for a natural food source, according to wildlife officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cYou are right smack dab in bear country and if they smell it and know it is there they will keep coming back,\u201d said Mike Porras, public information officer for <a id=\"N0x163e320N0x1682f80:N0x163e320N0x1624ee0\" href=\"https:\/\/cpw.state.co.us\/\">Colorado Parks and Wildlife\u2019s<\/a> northwest region, which includes Aspen and Pitkin County. \u201cThese bears are looking for an easy meal and they know where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And for the most part, it\u2019s the alleys of downtown Aspen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Food attractants lead to increased bear-human conflicts, often resulting in <a id=\"N0x163e320N0x1682fe0:N0x163e320N0x1625090\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/wildlife-officials-bear-killed-in-aspen-was-the-one-that-bit-hiker-on-hunter-creek-trail\/\">bruins being put down<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"><a id=\"N0x163e320N0x1683040:N0x163e320N0x1625168\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/bears-pulled-from-tree-in-downtown-aspens-pedestrian-mall\/\">In 2017<\/a>, when it was a poor natural food year and the bear-human conflict was at its peak, 16 bruins in Pitkin County were euthanized and four were relocated, including a mother and two cubs that <a id=\"N0x163e320N0x16830a0:N0x163e320N0x16251f8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/bears-pulled-from-tree-in-downtown-aspens-pedestrian-mall\/\">took up residence in a tree<\/a> on Aspen\u2019s pedestrian mall in September.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">CPW Officer Matt Yamashita said the last thing they want to do is euthanize a bear, but it\u2019s up to the community to ensure it doesn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt seems that societal norms have shifted, and it\u2019s acceptable that we are allowing human attractants,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are experiencing a paradigm shift that it\u2019s natural for bears to have human food and it\u2019s not natural, and that\u2019s what we are fighting against.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Porras noted that at least every night in Pitkin County there is a bear in a home, or attempting to get into one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">During the busiest time of the year, there can be as many as 20 calls coming into the 911 dispatch center, he said, adding that CPW officers have estimated that for every call, there are at least two or three that go unreported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cSo, that may actually be up to 60 bear conflicts in one night,\u201d Porras said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Lock it up, business and governments<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The APD\u2019s community response officers meet with all of the businesses in Aspen at the beginning of the season to educate them on the laws and discuss best practices for securing trash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If they slip up, often they\u2019ll get a talking to, or a formal warning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating because my officers are taking so much time and investing in education,\u201d said Ginna Gordon, supervisor of the APD\u2019s community response officers (CROs). \u201cWe are still working on community buy-in \u2026 we are on the right track in some areas but we have work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Several businesses in the downtown core routinely do not secure trash but escape scrutiny because their knocked-over or broken-into dumpster has been cleaned up before community response officers are on patrol.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Gordon said they are patrolling earlier now to get a better handle on the offenders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But as Consuegra pointed out, APD and CRO officers can\u2019t be everywhere all the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere\u2019s only so much we can do as an agency,\u201d she said, adding APD officers on the graveyard shift will take photos of turned over dumpsters and send them to the CROs. \u201cWe need buy-in from the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Gordon said those who have trash in dumpsters in enclosures or are locked up rarely have issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019m a fan of self-locking mechanisms because it eliminates human error,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For years, both the city and county have been guilty of violating the ordinance, with bear break-ins at the Rio Grande Recycling Center and at the service entrance at the Pitkin County Library.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Officials from both governments have taken measures to secure the trash in their respective locations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After several years of bears breaking into the library\u2019s metal trash containers and recyclable bins secured by carabineers, they were replaced with 3-yard dumpsters that are under lock and key.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Mike Fleagle, the county\u2019s facilities operations manager, said people were poaching the cans and dumping their own garbage, or new cleaning crews did not understand the rules.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cOur team is working diligently to have everything secure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Liz O\u2019Connell Chapman, the city\u2019s environmental health specialist, said the city switched to bear-resistant, self-latching containers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI get complaints on how hard they are to open,\u201d she said. \u201cIf people are abiding by the rules, there\u2019s nothing for them there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Being \u2018Bear Aware\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The penalties for violating the trash ordinance, which was <a id=\"N0x163e320N0x16831c0:N0x163e320N0x17146d0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-officials-up-wildlife-harassment-fines\/\">increased last year by Aspen City Council<\/a>, are $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $999 for the third, along with a summons in municipal court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201c(Tickets) are one of the tools we have,\u201d Consuegra said. \u201cIt\u2019s more about the time we are spending with people that makes the impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The APD spends between $5,000 and $6,500 a year on education efforts, including its <a id=\"N0x163e320N0x1683220:N0x163e320N0x1714880\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofaspen.com\/409\/Aspen-Bears\">\u201cBear Aware<\/a>\u201d campaign. That campaign is targeted more toward tourists, so they are aware of the solid waste and wildlife harassing ordinances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Consuegra said problems arise when dumpsters and containers aren\u2019t locked, allowing unauthorized individuals to dump their trash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It happens frequently downtown and in apartment complexes, she noted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Kim Keilin, who manages the Centennial rental complex, knows that predicament all too well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Centennial received all three citations that were issued last year, which landed her in front of municipal court judge Brooke Peterson. She paid $1,749 in fines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe are trying to educate 450 people \u2026 it\u2019s difficult training this many people,\u201d she said, adding that she\u2019s been leaving notes on the dumpster clips warning people that they will receive fines if they don\u2019t lock it back up. \u201cIf I have to go in front of Brooke, they are going with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Keilin has been giving out $250 fines, too. She said she\u2019s also emphasizing more education among tenants, especially new ones.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cLast year was a real learning experience and tenants are all on board with it now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Gordon said while there\u2019s still work to do in the downtown core, the residential areas have gotten much better compared to a decade or two ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe have made huge strides,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you go through the West End, it\u2019s pretty locked up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She added that if business and restaurant owners could have the same mentality that most city residents have subscribed to, Aspen\u2019s bears would be less vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIf we were all invested in this, everyone\u2019s job would be easier,\u201d Gordon said. \u201cIt would be safer for the community and for the bears.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"><em><a href=\"mailto:csackariason@aspentimes.com\">csackariason@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/aspens-trashy-ways-in-the-downtown-core-are-killing-bears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bears have been getting in trash behind the Pitkin County Library for years until recently when government officials replaced unsecured cans with dumpsters that can only be unlocked with a key.Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times A bear got into the trash in front of Taster&#8217;s Pizza this past spring.Carolyn Sackariason\/The Aspen Times A recycling can with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2445991","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-20 20:03:25","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2445991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2445991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2445991\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2445991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2445991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2445991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}