Colorado Bear Coalition urges electric fencing to secure Pitkin County landfill

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission convened on July 19, 2025, for the second day of discussions focused on wildlife management and conservation strategies. The meeting featured a series of presentations and public comments addressing various issues related to wildlife interactions and habitat preservation.

The session began with a speaker advocating for the use of drones to mitigate livestock predation by wolves. The speaker highlighted the success of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in other regions, suggesting that Colorado could benefit from similar proactive measures. The proposal included enlisting volunteers to help scare wolves away from ranches, aiming to reduce the visibility of livestock predation incidents on social media.

Next, Melinda Marquis, vice president of the Colorado Bear Coalition, presented on the issue of bears feeding at the Pitkin County landfill. She emphasized the effectiveness of electric fencing in preventing bear access to landfills, recommending that planning for a new landfill include permanent electric fencing. Marquis noted that the estimated cost for such fencing is around one million dollars, while a semi-permanent solution could be implemented for less than $10,000. She expressed concern that local officials had not committed to these measures, despite the potential for the landfill to serve as a model for bear management in Colorado.

Following Marquis, Robin Dow discussed the ecological benefits of beavers, particularly in the context of fire mitigation. Dow referenced the East Troublesome Fire of 2020, which devastated large areas of Colorado, noting that beaver dams were among the few structures that survived. She advocated for recognizing beavers as vital ecosystem engineers that help store water and create habitats for other wildlife. Dow suggested rethinking current fur trapping regulations, which allow for an unlimited bag limit during a seven-month season, to better support beaver populations and their environmental contributions.

The meeting concluded with a call for further exploration of these topics, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to wildlife management challenges in Colorado. The discussions underscored the importance of collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities in fostering sustainable wildlife practices.