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

The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department will enact seasonal dog on-leash requirements on several open space trails starting Friday, Aug. 15, to help minimize disturbances in sensitive bear habitats.

While community members may walk their dogs off-leash on many OSMP trails as part of the city’s Voice and Sight Tag Program, the city reminds community members to always leash their dogs in the presence of wildlife to help prevent dog-wildlife encounters.

The on-leash requirement will be in effect through Monday, Dec. 1, in the following 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 South from the Mesa Trail up to the intersection with Shadow Canyon North
• The upper part of the Doudy Draw Trail above Springbrook Loop

City-managed open space and natural areas provide important habitat for black bears. The dog leash requirement is intended to minimize dog-bear encounters where high-quality bear foraging habitat is near trails. It 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. 

Community members are also encouraged to help protect bears by ensuring trash containers are locked, because bears that come into town for food and find it are more likely to stay. If they stay, bears are at risk of being killed for a number of reasons, including being hit by vehicles, being electrocuted by power poles, ingesting harmful chemicals and losing their natural fear of people, which may result in euthanizing by wildlife officers.

The city encourages community members to view all open space dog regulations and trail updates through an 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 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.

Learn more about black bear safety on the city website.