Bears Visit Golden

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    • Bear cubs lounge in a treeGolden, Colo. ­— August 23, 2012  A mama bear and her three cubs spent the day snacking and napping in a tree in north Golden along the Tucker Gulch Trail. The Department of Wildlife (DOW) will continue to watch the bears until they come down from the tree and hopefully make their way safely out of the neighborhood.

    The bears were first spotted last night and Golden Police sent out a Target Notification to residents in the area of Golden just east of Highway 93. Residents were warned to stay indoors and keep doors and windows locked.

    This morning just after 6 a.m. another call came into Golden Dispatch confirming the bear’s location in the tree along the Tucker Gulch Trail. Golden Police and DOW officials worked with City of Golden staff to put up barricades along the streets and trail near the tree, to keep people a safe distance away from the bears.

    DOW officials hope the bears will not have to be tranquilized, and that they’ll leave without any incident. “We want them to move out on their own naturally, particularly when there’s a mama and so many cubs,” said Wildlife Manager Vicki Vargas-Madrid with the DOW. “It’s not always successful tranquilizing that many bears, and the drugs are really hard on the cubs. So we are waiting them out in hopes that they make their way out of the neighborhood.”

    Vargas-Madrid also says that it is not uncommon to see bears move through areas that back up to open space. “In particular, many of the residents in the neighborhood have fruit trees, which are a big draw for the bears that are seeking food to get ready for winter.”

    Golden Police will continue to block the roads and pathways until the bears are safely out of the area.