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Boulder Works To Find Balance Between Humans, Bears

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- The City of Boulder is working to find a balance that keeps humans safe and bears alive.

In the past week wildlife officials have euthanized two bears that have come too close to humans in Boulder.

"They come here every single night. It's a mama and her two cubs," said University of Colorado student and Boulder resident Tyler Gilliland.

A half dozen people attended a "Bears in Boulder" meeting Wednesday evening to discuss a strategy about keeping bears in the woods and away from homes and neighborhoods. Wildlife officials also taught those concerned residents simple steps to keeping bears away.

Some residents feel that keeping bears off of their property is an extra expense they can't afford.

Bears are a common sight in some Boulder neighborhoods where they knock over garbage cans and rummage through trash.

"When the bears come there's trash everywhere all the way up and down the alleys as far as you can see," said CU student Alex Sedillo.

Every fall bear and human conflicts become a common occurrence in the foothills along the Front Range. Wildlife officials said black bears preparing for hibernation often sneak into the city for food.

"It's becoming quite a scene. The past three nights they've been rummaging through the trash can," said CU student Caleb Hill.

Wildlife officials euthanized a 590-pound black bear this week in Boulder after it found its way to the same neighborhood for a second time.

Wildlife officials believe that residents need to be more responsible with locking up any potential food source and urge locals to use bear-proof containers.

"This is a bear-proof trash can," said Sedillo. "It locks and it also costs an extra $10 a month.

"We wanted to get a second trash can because that's not a big enough trash can for six guys then it's another $30 a month."

Some CU students believe the responsibility should fall on the city not the community.

"It makes more sense for the city to come in and if they're worried about it then they can enforce these trash cans and provide these trash cans. Otherwise I'm not paying for it," said CU student CJ Nizich.

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