Officials warn Boulder County residents to be aware of increased bear activity in early fall.

Urban bear activity typically increases in late summer and early fall as bears enter the stage of hyperphagia — a period of excessive eating to fatten up for hibernation, according to a press release.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has reported high bear activity around Boulder and “issues with unsecured trash and livestock acting as attractants to bears on a nightly basis”, according to the release.

Officials encouraged community members and University of Colorado Boulder students to lock trash containers and to secure animals and livestock to protect them from bears.

Kara Van Hoose, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, urged residents to dispose of any nearby bear attractants.

“It’s that time of year when bears are trying to bulk up and eat as many calories as they can … they are more visible to us, because they are going where the food is,” said Van Hoose. “Between August and November is when we take the majority of our bear reports … we have to be vigilant about our trash and remove those food sources for bears.”

Van Hoose also recommended that residents keep their trash locked up and stowed away before pickup. Residents also should remove any bird feeders from their homes.

“They can get into cars, too, so keeping your cars clear of trash and candy wrappers is recommended,” said Van Hoose. “Once a bear is in a car, they can’t get out, so you’ll have a much bigger problem.”

As Halloween approaches, Van Hoose said to be wary of leaving candy out on doorsteps. Bears can smell food from up to five miles away.

“Some people leave out candy for Halloween but that is also candy or bears, so be really careful about that,” Van Hoose said. “They will travel for food, and they will remember where they got their food and return to that location time and time again.”

Additionally, officials offered tips to avoid attracting bears to urban areas such as: using bear-resistant trash and compost bins while making sure latches are secure and bins are not overflowing; picking ripe fruit from trees and don’t allow it to collect on the ground; removing food wrappers and coffee cups from vehicles and ensure the doors are locked; securing livestock within an enclosure or permitted electric fence; removing bird feeders and cleaning up spilled seeds on the ground; and cleaning up and storing outdoor grills inside after use.

“It’s more important than ever for residents, including students, to make sure their bear resistant (trash cans) are in good working condition and locked,” said Valerie Matheson, urban wildlife coordinator for Boulder. “Keeping bears out of trash is one of the primary ways to reduce conflicts with people.”

Longmont city officials also urged residents to follow guidelines set forth by CPW related to trash and food.

“Boulder always has a healthy bear population around it, but we want to keep them outside of city limits,” said Van Hoose. “It’s time to be really careful for the next few weeks so bears are able to find their natural food sources.”

To report bear or lion activity that may require a response, such as a bear near a trail, contact Boulder Police Department’s non-emergency number at 303-441-3333.

For more information, visit boulderwildlifeplan.net.