COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A small community food bank, the Neighbor’s Pantry, is currently facing challenges from the city of Colorado Springs. The city is issuing citations and there is talk of shutting it down because it’s operating in a bear management area.
A spokesperson for Colorado Springs explained, “We support local efforts to help people, but we also have to keep everyone safe, including wildlife. This food bank is in an area where bears often roam, and unsecured food can lead to dangerous situations.”
In bear management areas, city rules require that food sources be stored securely. The goal is to prevent bears from getting too close to homes, which can lead to property damage or even harm to the bears themselves. The city emphasizes the balance between helping those in need and ensuring safety for residents and wildlife.
According to recent data, bear encounters in urban areas have been rising. In fact, reports from wildlife agencies show a 40% increase in human-bear encounters over the past five years across similar regions. This emphasizes the importance of secure food storage in managing these encounters.
The city is committed to finding solutions. A member from the Housing and Homelessness Response team will connect with the Neighbor’s Pantry to discuss how they can comply with the regulations while continuing to serve the community’s needs.
For more details about securing food in bear-active areas, you can visit ColoradoSprings.gov/Bears.
