Black bears live around Telluride, and trash is the thing that gets them killed

If you live in or visit San Miguel County, you share it with black bears. They move through Telluride and Mountain Village every year, especially in late summer and fall when they are eating hard before winter. Seeing one is part of life here, not a sign something is wrong.

The danger is rarely the bear by nature — it is the food we leave out. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is clear that trash and human food are the leading cause of bear conflicts. A bear that learns to raid cans, bird feeders, pet bowls, or a car with snacks inside keeps coming back, gets bolder, and often ends up dead, because a food-conditioned bear is hard to fix.

That is why the rules here have teeth. Telluride requires refuse that attracts bears to be kept in a secured, bear-resistant container, and ignoring it can bring escalating fines. The simple habits matter: lock the trash, take down bird feeders in bear season, keep pet food inside, and don’t leave food or scented items in a parked car.

You can enjoy living among wildlife and protect the bears at the same time. For bear-aware steps and the rules in your town, check Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s living-with-bears guidance and your town’s code.