Thursday August 20, 2009

A 500 pound bear—-believed to be the same animal that attacked Maureen Hirsch at her home on Sneaky Lane in Aspen on Monday night—-made another appearance last night—at a home just a few blocks away.
At midnight last night—John Case, whose house is located in the west end neighborhood near cemetery lane—on Mountain View Drive—entered his living room to find the bear sniffing around. 
Case froze—only a large plastic statue of a triceratops dinosaur between him and the bear.  
After about thirty seconds, says Case—the bear left.  It had, in the same manner of entry at Hirsch’s home, forced open locked French doors to gain access.
The division of Wildlife officers have been hunting this bear since Monday night with no luck—–several bear traps have been put out in the neighborhood.  You are advised be on the lookout for all bears, but especially this one   If you meet up—don’t run.
Bears can easily out pace you.  Try to avoid making direct eye contact….but if approached make a lot of noise.
Black Bears, like all bears, are omnivores (they will eat anything), but historically are much less prone to attacking humans unless seen as a source of food.   Earlier this month, a 74 year old woman near Ouray in San Miguel County was killed and eaten by a black bear—-after she attempted to feed it through a fence.
KUUR and KSNO local news will keep you informed about incursions, and what progress the DOW is having in trapping the bear that broke into two homes this week in Aspen—injuring one resident——–when found, the bear will be euthanized.
And Lift Ticket and pass prices are out for 2009/2010:  for the mountains of the Aspen Skiing Company.  Ski co has authorized a $200 discount for the Premier pass—-chamber resort associations throughout the Roaring Fork Valley offer that pass to businesses for their employees;  as many businesses consider whether to offer employee ski passes anymore.  Gone are the two day a week pass, and the Highlands only and Buttermilk only passes.  The flex pass, which provides access one day a week, with an option to buy more days at $49 per day, is recommended in its place.