Kohl: Bear incident in Willits could have been prevented

This tragic incident could have been prevented by early reporting.

The heartbreaking shooting of a mother bear in Willits that left her two cubs orphaned was entirely preventable. This tragedy could have been avoided if local residents had notified Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) or the Roaring Fork Valley Bear Coalition when the bear family first appeared over the summer. Instead, the situation escalated and resulted in the bear being shot as it sought refuge in a tree – a natural, safe place.

The Roaring Fork Valley Bear Coalition, a nonprofit volunteer organization, works to reduce human-bear conflict throughout the valley. We help residents identify and remove potential attractants through proactive measures such as education, bear-proof containers, electrified bear mats, and electric fencing. We work closely with CPW and law enforcement to prevent conflicts before they occur.

Why is early reporting so important? CPW's trained wildlife managers use safe, non-lethal intimidation methods to keep bears in the wild. Taking matters into your own hands is dangerous and often leads to tragic results. CPW's goal is to prevent bear conflict, not to euthanize bears. It's important to know that not all bears tagged are conflict bears – some have been treated or rehabilitated.

In Willits, the community lived peacefully with the bear family for months. Unfortunately, one person's frustration led to reckless actions, resulting in the bear's death. We hope this person receives the maximum sentence and sets a good example.

This incident is a painful reminder: contact the professionals if you encounter a bear.
http://roaringforkbears.org.

Daniela Kohl

Carbondale