City to Implement Bear-Related Dog Leash Restrictions for Several Trails

The City of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department will enact seasonal dog on-leash restrictions on several open space trails on Thursday, Aug. 15, to help minimize disturbances in sensitive bear habitats. While visitors may walk their dogs off-leash on many OSMP trails as part of the city's Voice and Sight Tag Program, the department reminds visitors to always leash their dogs in the presence of wildlife to help prevent dog-wildlife encounters in open space.

The on-leash requirement will be in effect through Sunday, Dec. 1, in four City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks areas:

• Portions of Gregory Canyon, Saddle Rock, Amphitheater and Bluebell-Baird Trails
• Skunk Canyon up to the Mesa Trail
• Shadow Canyon Southfrom the Mesa Trail up to the intersection with Shadow Canyon North
• The upper part of the Doudy Draw Trailabove Springbrook Loop

City-managed open space and its foothills and forest natural areas provide important habitat for black bears. The department's dog leash requirement is intended to minimize dog-bear encounters and is timed to coincide when bears begin to consume large amounts of food on open space to gain enough weight to support them through their long winter hibernation. OSMP implements seasonal dog-leash restrictions for a few trails where high-quality bear foraging habitat is near trails. This year, OSMP extended the leash restriction through Dec. 1 and updated closure areas to better protect bears as they prepare for winter hibernation.

OSMP encourages community members to view all open space dog-related regulations through an OSMP interactive web map. If you see a bear, remember to:

• Stay calm.
• Keep your distance. Back slowly away, facing the bear. Avoid direct eye contact.
• Slowly and calmly leave the area. Talk aloud so the bear will become aware of you.
• Fight back if attacked. Black bears have been driven away when people fight with rocks, sticks, binoculars, or even bare hands.
• Consider putting your dog on a leash during active bear season on all trails for your dog's protection.
• Don't litter. Please dispose of all litter in bear-proof trash cans when you are in bear habitat. Remove it from the area if trash cans are full. Your consideration could save a bear's life.
• Report sightings.