As new homes proliferate in Pagosa Lakes, human-bear encounters are on the rise due to the area’s proximity to the National Forest. These encounters pose risks to human safety, property, and wildlife. Repeat conflicts require intervention from Colorado Parks & Wildlife, leading to significant time and expense.
To address this, Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA) is prioritizing education on coexisting with bears. Measures include proper waste management, limited use of bird feeders, securing buildings, tending gardens responsibly, and supervising pets.
In 2024, PLPOA secured a grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife for Human-Bear Conflict Reduction. This project involves distributing 365 bear-resistant garbage carts to residents in the Vista Subdivision, where conflicts are most frequent. Additionally, the grant supports community-wide education through various channels.
To facilitate grant implementation, PLPOA’s Board of Directors established an Ad-hoc Committee comprising resident volunteers. This committee will assist with information dissemination, explore new educational methods, and collaborate with local authorities. It will also guide future initiatives based on project evaluation.
Residents interested in joining the committee can contact PLPOA. Further resources on living with bears and preventing conflicts are provided via various links.
Click the images below to two very helpful sites …
Click on the image below to view full PDF documents…
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS – Link to all bearwise material (spanish and english available)
Vista Bear Grant Links
DIGITAL DOOR HANGING PACKET
CLICK TO LINK TO FILL THE SURVEY OUT ONLINE
PRINTABLE SURVEY