During warmer weather this month, residents have noticed some black bears already awake in the Steamboat Springs area.

“Time to lock up that trash, take down bird feeders and lock doors,” warned Bear Aware Steamboat coordinator Christy Bubenheim.

Bubenheim received a report on March 5, for example, from drivers who were concerned about a young bear’s safety and “overall lack of gumption” at the corner of Mount Werner and Pine Grove roads.

After checking on the sleepy bear, Bubenheim noted, “It is old enough to be on its own and most likely seemed lethargic simply because it had recently come out of hibernation.”

The educator said callers have already spotted awake bears on the eastern side of Steamboat. She said, typically, adult males first awake from hibernation followed by yearlings, then sows, and then sows with new cubs.

“With the changing of the seasons, bears will most likely spend time back in their dens and/or out and about,” Bubenheim said. “If everyone does their part right off the bat by not providing unnatural food sources and attractants for the bears to become human-habituated, Steamboat can help to teach the bears that there is no reason to stay in town.”

Colorado Parks & Wildlife Public Information Officer Rachael Gonzales said Routt County experienced 200 reports of bear activity as well as 107 sightings throughout 2023, with one bear relocated and four euthanized. Gonzales said trash issues led to 19 attractant-related property damage incidents. She reported 25 other human food attractant problems were caused by pet food, bird seed, unclean barbecue grills, compost, refrigerators or freezers, coolers and koi ponds.