Homeowner fined for feeding bear that broke into home 3 times, told to stop luring bears

A Colorado resident was fined and warned not to lure bears after a black bear entered the home three times in two days, according to CBS Colorado.

A bear weighing between 225 and 250 pounds opened the door of what was described as a home in an upscale Colorado Springs, Colorado, neighborhood and rummaged around unnoticed.

The homeowner found the muddy bear tracks on the floor and closed the door. However, the persistent bear returned through the same door and walked around the home's kitchen.

The bear was reportedly reluctant to leave the home, and it took yelling and the banging of pots and pans for the bear to run away. However, the smarter-than-average bear returned the following night, this time through an open door.

"It's extremely fortunate no one was injured by this bear when it confronted the homeowners in the kitchen," said Tim Kroening, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "This bear had become habituated to people, associating them as a food source. This created a dangerous situation when the bear was confronted in a confined space in the home."

The bear was euthanized by CPW, as is its policy for any bear that enters a person's home.

CPW officers determined one of the homeowners was feeding the bear and cited the homeowner for the crime. The homeowners were also warned about luring bears.

The fine under Colorado law for feeding big game is $100; however, "the fine for knowingly luring a bear with food or edible waste [ranges] from $100 to $200 for a first offense, $500 to $1,000 for a second offense, and $1,000 to $2,000 for a third or subsequent offense."

"Wild bears are naturally afraid of people and avoid them," Kroening said. "When a bear learns that human homes are a source of food, they become dangerous to people. Imagine encountering a bear in your kitchen. If there is no clear exit available, a tragic confrontation could occur. We can't risk that happening."

Public Information Officer Bill Vogrin hinted at the food source that attracted the bear and stated that "feeding big game can be as simple as putting out bird seed in such a way that big game can easily access it."

The case remains under investigation, as authorities found the bear had apparently become habituated to people.

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