A petition demanding increased transparency and accountability in bear management practices has garnered thousands of signatures in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The petition was started in response to the recent euthanization of an aggressive female bear by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

The incident occurred on Friday, October 6, when the bear was spotted in a residential area. The bear reportedly approached several people and charged at one individual. CPW officers were called to the scene and euthanized the bear.

The euthanization of the bear sparked outrage and concern in the Colorado Springs community. Many residents are questioning whether CPW could have done more to prevent the incident and whether the euthanization was necessary.

The petition, which was started by local resident Sarah Price, calls for CPW to release more information about the incident, including the bear’s history of conflict with humans and the rationale for euthanizing the bear. The petition also calls for CPW to implement more proactive bear management strategies, such as increased education and outreach to the public and more robust efforts to secure attractants.

“We need to know more about what happened with this bear,” Price said. “We also need to know what CPW is doing to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

CPW has defended its decision to euthanize the bear, stating that the bear posed a risk to human health and safety. However, CPW has not yet released any additional information about the incident.

The petition has garnered over 2,300 signatures as of October 12. Price said that she is hopeful that the petition will put pressure on CPW to be more transparent and accountable in its bear management practices.

The euthanization of the bear in Colorado Springs raises a number of important questions about bear management practices in urban areas.

One of the biggest questions is whether CPW could have done more to prevent the incident. CPW has stated that the bear had a history of conflict with humans, but it is unclear how many conflicts the bear had been involved in or how serious those conflicts were. It is also unclear whether CPW took any steps to try to avoid euthanizing the bear, such as relocating the bear to a more remote area.

Another important question is whether the euthanization of the bear was necessary. CPW claims that the bear posed a risk to human health and safety, but there is no evidence to suggest that the bear was about to attack anyone. The bear reportedly approached several people and charged at one individual, but it did not actually attack anyone.

The euthanization of the bear has also raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of CPW’s bear management practices. CPW has not yet released any additional information about the incident, despite calls from the public and from the petition. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess whether CPW made the right decision in euthanizing the bear.

The petition calling for increased transparency and accountability in bear management practices is a positive step. It shows that the Colorado Springs community is concerned about the welfare of bears and that they want to see CPW do more to prevent conflicts between bears and humans.

The euthanization of the bear in Colorado Springs is a reminder of the challenges of managing bear populations in urban areas. It is important to strike a balance between protecting public safety and conserving bears. CPW needs to be more transparent and accountable in its bear management practices, and it needs to work with the community to develop proactive strategies for preventing conflicts between bears and humans.

_{Please note: for more information about this petition visit the local news site in Colorado Springs: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fox21news.com/news/local/thousands-sign-petition-after-colorado-springs-bear-euthanization/amp/}

©️ Rocky Mountain Dispatch 2023