Each year, black bears wander into Boulder, Colorado's urban areas in search of food and shelter. See how local residents & stakeholders are working to protect these bears and keep the community safe.

The Bears and People Project is the perfect instance for art to evoke sensitive feelings, like admiration for wildlife and our interconnection to bears, and inspire the community’s engagement in coexistence.

As a way to cut through the noise and encourage people to pay attention to and take action on behalf of wild nature, I focus on Boulder’s efforts to coexist with local black bears (Ursus americanus). By focusing on one identifiable species and region, I hope to demonstrate how the use of proactive community efforts and visual communication ...

On March 18, 2014, the city of Boulder officially implemented the Bear Protection Ordinance (BPO), which requires all trash and curbside compost to be secured from bears at all times until collected by a waste hauler in the western part of the city, …

noise and encourage people to pay attention to and take action on behalf of wild nature, I focus on Boulder’s efforts to coexist with local black bears (Ursus americanus). By focusing on one identifiable species and region, my Bears and People Project will demonstrate how the

In addition to being literal bear babysitters, a major role of a bear sitter volunteer is to educate citizens about how to be safe with bears, and how to manage their homes and property to discourage bears from lingering in neighborhoods.

It’s necessary to understand that conflicts between humans and bears will continue unless people take action to proactively secure attractants from the bears and practice safe hazing techniques.

We as a community can be successful in protecting black bears and keeping our neighbors safe by doing one thing: removing the reason they want to come in. What’s the reason they wander into town? Food and shelter! Bear comics created by Carly Hill for the Bears & People Project

Being a bear sitter requires a firm understanding of the black bear species, confidence to act under pressure and make quick decisions, and volunteers must be extremely comfortable working with the general public and promoting safe actions.

What was the process like for implementing the Bear Protection Ordinance? In 2011 we held multiple community events that helped us get input on people’s experiences with bears and trash.