Snowmass Village to host education event as bears emerge early

Snowmass residents and visitors are invited to a free bear education event from 3-5 p.m. May 12 at the Town Park Gazebo in Snowmass Village. 

The event, hosted by the Snowmass Village Police Department’s Animal Services team, is aiming to educate the community on bear safety and local wildlife patterns. Attendees will learn practical steps they can take to minimize risk of conflict, including securing garbage properly, removing attractants and identifying bear behaviors as they change with the seasons.

“It’s a great opportunity to get educated on the best practices to avoid conflicts and to get to know us as resources to help with any sort of animal incidents — domestic or wildlife — and to engage with other community members,” shared Lauren Martenson, Snowmass Village Animal Services officer. 

Attendees are also invited to take home free 2-ounce local honey bears, while supplies last. 

Since March, black bears have been emerging from hibernation across Colorado. Bears are in caloric-deficits during this early period, meaning they are highly food-motivated and more likely to encounter humans. 

So far, seven bear sightings were reported in the Snowmass area this year, Martenson told The Aspen Times. 

According to Martenson, this spring’s first bear sightings were reported slightly earlier than usual. Martenson attributes this shift to the record-breaking warm temperatures and low precipitation that marked early 2026. 

Martenson also shared that this event will provide an opportunity to shed a more positive light on bears and reframe old narratives. 

“We can appreciate the fact that there are bears that live here and we get to enjoy seeing them, hopefully at a safe distance,” Martenson said. “There’s this push to change the narrative a little bit when it comes to black bears, because there’s always been this narrative of ‘problem bear,’ ‘nuisance bear,’ and really it’s a human problem.” 

She added, “Bears are just following their instincts and trying to find food, and they’re opportunistic and will go for whatever is easy. We can’t expect them to change. It’s on us.”