DURANGO, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) not too long ago relocated a black bear described as an “absolute unit” and a “chonk” from underneath a neighbor’s deck in Durango.
CPW mentioned wildlife officers responded on Thursday, Sept. 19 to a house on the west facet of Durango after the house owner reported a big bear had growled and huffed at him from beneath his deck when he walked down the deck stairs.
CPW mentioned this specific boar (a male bear) had been seen round Durango incessantly over the summer season, moving into trash and fruit timber. Nevertheless, the bear appeared keen on his hangout spot beneath this specific deck. The bear had not returned to the deck in a number of weeks, however made his presence recognized on Thursday.
CPW mentioned the house owner did the suitable factor by calling its Durango workplace. It took two darts to get the huge bear to take slightly nap, after which the true work of pulling him out from underneath the deck started.
In accordance with CPW, it took at the very least 4 officers to get the bear out from underneath the deck and loaded onto a stretcher that may very well be pulled to a lure. A winch had for use to load the “chonk” into the lure, and as soon as loaded, officers gave the bear a fast well being examination, to incorporate a tooth examine for estimating his age, earlier than administering a reversal drug.
“It did not take lengthy for the bear to wake again up and proceed to impress our workers with its sheer measurement. An absolute unit,” CPW mentioned.
Fortunately, CPW mentioned there was pure habitat by which the bear may very well be launched, far-off from human neighbors in Durango, that had an abundance of forage for the massive man, like acorns and chokecherries.
CPW mentioned the relocation was needed as a result of a number of reported conflicts with this particular bear in Durango over the summer season, and since “underneath a deck just isn’t place for a bear to repeatedly arrange store.” This near denning season, CPW mentioned it was important that the bear discover a way more appropriate den.
CPW reminds neighbors that bears are in “hyperphagia”–trying to eat as many as 20,000 energy a day to arrange for hibernation. CPW mentioned it’s crucial that folks take away attractants corresponding to unsecured trash and fallen fruit from neighborhoods to stop lurking bears. You’ll be able to be taught extra about hyperphagia and the right way to stop bear encounters on CPW’s web site.
As for the “chonk” that was relocated Thursday, CPW mentioned its workers took guesses on the burden of the bear, and a consensus was reached at about 450 kilos. Some officers even speculated it may very well be larger.
“Now in higher habitat with robust pure meals availability, we’re left to solely surprise how a lot greater it’ll get this fall,” mentioned CPW. “However that is a solution we hope to by no means know.”
