Colorado man fined $1K for repeatedly feeding bears

Published 8:04 am Thursday, August 2, 2018

DURANGO, Colo. — A Colorado man has been fined $1,000 for intentionally feeding bears for the third time in the past eight years.

The Durango Herald reports a resident reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife that they had seen a man leaving out food in his backyard for bears.

Wildlife Manager Matt Thorpe says the resident took pictures and provided them to officials.

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An investigation found that the man had previously been fined for the same behavior in 2010 and 2012.

In Colorado, it’s illegal to knowingly feed bears.

The first offense carries a $100 fine. The second violation gives a $500 fine.

Thorpe said Colorado Parks and Wildlife contacted the man on Sunday, who paid the fine on the spot.

He can be fined another $1,000 if he breaks the law again.