BE BEAR AWARE
Local info you simply can NOT google
Susan's
ASPEN INTEL
Christie's International Real Estate
What every Aspen and Snowmass homeowner should know about sharing the valley with bears — and staying on the right side of the trash ordinance.
Bear Aware: An Aspen & Snowmass Homeowner's Guide
Last fall, while golfing with my favorite Aspen Valley Ski Club (AVSC) coaches, we watched a very large black bear strolling the 13th fairway of the municipal golf course like he owned the place — practically a course marshal reminding everyone to keep up the pace of play. Yes, it's a charming mountain-lifestyle moment, and also a useful reminder: up here, we share the valley with serious wildlife, and how we handle our trash is quite literally a matter of life and death for our bears.
If you live in Aspen or Snowmass, own a home here, or are thinking about buying, this is the kind of local knowledge that saves you headaches (and fines). Here's the real deal.
Quick Answers
- Container: a certified wildlife-resistant can or dumpster, latched and secured at all times.
- The 6-to-7 rule: bins out after 6 a.m. on pickup day, back in by 7 p.m. — compost included.
- Fines escalate: roughly $250, then $500, then just under $1,000; the third offense means a mandatory court appearance.
- Bear selfies count: getting too close is wildlife harassment, carrying the same fine structure.
A fed bear is a dead bear
It sounds harsh, but it's the single most important thing to understand. When a bear learns to associate humans with an easy meal — an unlatched dumpster, a bird feeder, fruit left on the ground — it loses its natural caution and keeps coming back. Habituated bears that break into homes or turn aggressive often have to be euthanized; in a tough year, more than a dozen bears in Pitkin County have been put down. Almost every one of those conflicts traces back to human food. Keeping bears wild starts with us.
The trash rules locals follow
Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Pitkin County all require wildlife-resistant containers, and they're enforced. Using the City of Aspen's ordinance as the benchmark (Snowmass Village and the County have their own, similar rules):
- Trash may only be left outdoors in a certified wildlife-proof container or wildlife-resistant dumpster — latched and secured at all times.
- Put bins out after 6 a.m. on pickup day and bring them in by 7 p.m. the same day. This includes compost, which bears love.
- Fines escalate fast: roughly $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and just under $1,000 for a third — the third comes with a mandatory court appearance, and total penalties under the City's trash ordinance can reach $1,000.
The same fine structure now applies to wildlife harassment — yes, that includes stopping for a too-close "bear selfie." Give them room.
The attractants people forget
It isn't just the trash can. Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell, and Aspen and Snowmass properties are full of temptations:
- Fruit trees — those pretty crab apples are a magnet; pick up windfall fruit, and consider non-fruiting varieties when landscaping.
- Bird feeders, especially in late summer and fall when bears are fattening up for winter (a phase called hyperphagia).
- Compost, grills, and recycling with food residue — rinse containers and keep them secured.
- Open garage doors and unlocked ground-floor windows — bears are smart, curious, and strong enough to let themselves in.
If you meet a bear
Stay calm, don't run, and give it a clear escape route. Make yourself big, speak firmly, and back away slowly. Never get between a sow and her cubs. For a bear that won't leave or is in your home, contact Colorado Parks & Wildlife or local authorities. Most encounters end peacefully when people stay composed and don't crowd the animal.
The bottom line
Living among wildlife is one of the genuine privileges of Aspen and Snowmass life — and it comes with a small set of responsibilities that quickly become second nature. Get a certified container, mind the 6-to-7 rule, clean up the fruit, and you'll rarely have a problem. It's exactly the kind of local detail I walk new owners through, because the goal is simple: keep our bears wild, and your home (and wallet) bear-free.
Buying or selling a home in Aspen or Snowmass and want a local who actually knows the territory?
See what my clients say → or call 970-948-6786.
Susan Plummer, Realtor®
Christie's International Real Estate, Aspen & Snowmass
520 E. Durant Avenue, Suite 205, Aspen, CO 81611
License #100049477 · 970-948-6786 · susan@susanplummer.com
