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Colorado Parks And Wildlife Hopes $1 Million Grant Will Reduce Human-Bear Conflicts

DENVER (CBS4)- Colorado Parks and Wildlife is hoping to reduce human-bear conflicts thanks to a grant program. The $1 million in grants was made available through House Bill 21-1326.

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(credit: Carleen)

The grant program will be used on projects that reduce conflicts. Local governments, HOAs, community groups, businesses, tribes, universities and individuals are all eligible to receive funding for grants between $50,000 and $500,000.

"This is an huge opportunity for local governments and partners to work with Parks and Wildlife to reduce human-bear conflicts to keep communities and property safer and better protect Colorado's iconic black bear populations," said Gov. Jared Polis in a statement. "I look forward to seeing positive impact from the innovative solutions that are developed through these new projects."

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(credit: Isaac Brisk)

According to CPW, projects should be designed to prevent conflict with bears and have tangible outcomes with realistic timelines.

"This is a unique funding opportunity we are providing to help communities reduce human-bear conflicts," said Kristin Cannon, Deputy Regional Manager for CPW's Northeast Region, who is helping lead this effort, in a statement. "High priority projects will model solutions to conflict, be innovative, are replicable by other communities, involve multiple partners and fill a need in an area with high conflict."

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(credit: Colorado Parks & Wildlife)

CPW received over 14,000 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears in a two-year span from 2019-2021. Nearly one-third of those involved trash cans and dumpsters as an attractant. That will be a target area that CPW hopes to address when awarding grants, along with birdfeeders, livestock, open garages and other human-originated items that are left unsecured.

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