Aug 23, 2006 9:15 pm US/Mountain
DOW Approves Bear Hunt Due To Sightings Increase
by Mike Hooker
RED FEATHER LAKES, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Wildlife officials have authorized bear hunting in a Colorado neighborhood to minimize the risk of to people and property.
Dry conditions have been partly to blame for an increase in bear sightings and break-ins in the Crystal Lakes subdivision located just 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins.
It's the first bear hunt to be approved in a private subdivision. Even though neighbors in the area have been better about not leaving food out, neighborhood leaders and wildlife officials said the bear hunt is still important because there are too many bears for the size of that habitat.
"The breaking point was really, for the fifth year in a row, we had experienced more than 100 break-ins," said Jim Tiffen, a Crystal Lakes resident.
Many homeowners, like Tiffen, feel the hunt is the best option but it will be done using bows and arrows for safety and quiet.
"We're absolutely, adamantly, opposed to using rifles up here," Tiffen said.
"It's much better that we give this opportunity to public hunters than us going in and killing problem bears," said Tyler Baskfield with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Wildlife officials said Crystal Lakes has plenty of open space for a safe bow hunt with experienced archers.
"We've got some great hunters up there that know exactly what their doing, that are experienced," Baskfield said. "I doubt that any of the residents will even know this hunt is taking place unless they've read about it in the newspapers or seen it on TV."
The bear hunt is set to run from September 5 through the end of November. There will be 12 licenses issued.
Officials said the hunt will be successful if hunters can manage to take two or three of the bears.
There were 122 bear break-ins in Crystal Lakes last year. There have been only 13 this year, but the bears' prime feeding time is just beginning as they begin to store up energy for the winter.
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