Aspen Parks and Open Space

05/07/2026

Join us on June 6th at Paepcke Park for our annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway! 🌿

Enjoy food, drinks, and snacks while connecting with local vendors and participating in our mid morning raffle. To take part in the tree giveaway, be sure to scan the QR code on the flyer or use the link below to select your tree in advance. The link also includes event timing and giveaway details.

Let's kick off another beautiful summer together- we can't wait to see you there!

https://www.aspenrecreation.com/parks-trails/natural-resources-division/forestry-events

Únase a nosotros el 6 de junio en Paepcke Park para nuestra entrega anual de árboles del Día del Árbol. 🌿

Disfrute de comida, bebidas y bocadillos mientras se conecta con proveedores locales y participa en nuestra rifa de media mañana. Para participar en la entrega de árboles, asegúrese de escanear el código QR en el volante o usar el enlace a continuación para seleccionar su árbol con anticipación. El enlace también incluye los horarios del evento y los detalles de la entrega.

Celebremos juntos la llegada de otro verano: ¡Ojalá nos acompañen, ahí nos vemos!

https://www.aspenrecreation.com/parks-trails/natural-resources-division/forestry-events

04/17/2026

A bear opens the unlocked car door and climbs in looking for food. The car door closes behind them. The bear struggles to get out, sometimes for hours. This is the result.

04/15/2026

Wildlife Wednesday- Is this a bull or cow moose? How can you tell?

04/14/2026

Join us in learning about wildfire preparedness, Aspen's forest health, and what to expect for the 2026 fire season. The presentation begins at 5:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of the Aspen Fire Station. Everyone is welcome- come learn, ask questions, and spread the word with friends and neighbors!

04/05/2026

https://www.aspentimes.com/news/colorado-drought-human-bear-conflicts/

Colorado’s black bears are beginning to stir with the first signs of spring. While the spring wake-up for bears comes right on schedule, this winter’s historically low snowpack, record high temperatures and deepening drought conditions...

04/02/2026

Bears are in town, please follow these steps to help keep bears wild and people safe.

Spring is a time to be extra BearWise. Now is the time to take action to discourage hungry bears from paying you a springtime visit. BearWise has tips for you to make it a BearWise spring.

- Secure garbage and recylces. Store trash and recyling in a sturdy building or bear-resistant container until the morning of pick up.

- Take down bird feeders. If you’re still feeding birds, you could soon find something big, furry and hungry ripping down your feeder. So many calories, so easy to get at. When you take down your feeders, remember to lock up or bring inside any bird seed or other treats you’ve been storing outside.

– Bring in all pet food. Leaving pet food outside where bears can see or smell it is an invitation that can be hard for a hungry bear to resist. Feed pets indoors if at all possible. If you must feed them outside, feed in single portions only, remove bowls and food after feeding and store pet food inside in a secure location.

- Help out your neighbors and community. Share BearWise resources with your community. Visit the BearWise store to download free information fact sheets (including the checklist: How BearWise Are You?) or order handy door hangers and magnets that make house calls for you.

Check out more BearWise spring tips: bearwise.org/seven-tips-for-a-bearwise-spring

Thanks for doing your part to make it a BearWise spring.



BearWise®. Created by bear biologists. Supported by State Wildlife Agencies.
Dedicated to helping people live responsibly with black bears.

04/01/2026

In case you missed it-

Wildlife biologists with Colorado Parks and Wildlife made a startling discovery last week when they found a collection of tools including screwdrivers, crowbars, a sledge hammer and bolt cutters laying in and around a bear’s den in the White River National Forest.

03/25/2026

Wildlife Wednesday: Is that a bull or cow, doe or buck? This time of year it is hard to tell. Most of these animals have recently shed their antlers so it's hard to tell from a distance if you are looking at a male or female. Up close you can see the pedicles, which are bony nubs where antlers attach to the skull. Antlers begin to regrow shortly after shedding. Mule deer antlers can grow up to 1.5" per week, and elk can grow up to 1"per DAY. Do you know the difference between antlers and horns?

03/19/2026

The Northstar Nature Preserve is a great place to view wildlife. These are just a few of the photos from last year. What are you favorite animals to see around Aspen? Remember to always keep your distance from wildlife.

03/11/2026

We've already had a bear get into trash in town. Want to learn more about what bears do as they emerge from their dens?
What Bears Do In March...
Hibernating bears may temporarily leave their dens and do a short walk-about before curling up and going back to sleep. Bedding in the den might be several inches of grasses, moss, leaves, pine needles and tree branches.
In March many full-grown male bears begin to emerge from their winter dens. Bears that denned up in poor condition and survived the winter may also leave their dens. Why would a bear den up in poor condition? It might be injured, or a freeze or wildfire damaged acorns and berries and made it tough to pack on the pounds needed to stay healthy all winter.
Since bears can lose more than thirty percent of their body weight over their long winter’s fast, you’d think they’d make a beeline for the nearest food source. But most bears emerge drowsy and lethargic and spend their first few days drinking lots of water.
Read our latest article to learn more about bear activity in March: bearwise.org/what-bears-do-in-march

What Bears Do In March...

Hibernating bears may temporarily leave their dens and do a short walk-about before curling up and going back to sleep. Bedding in the den might be several inches of grasses, moss, leaves, pine needles and tree branches.

In March many full-grown male bears begin to emerge from their winter dens. Bears that denned up in poor condition and survived the winter may also leave their dens. Why would a bear den up in poor condition? It might be injured, or a freeze or wildfire damaged acorns and berries and made it tough to pack on the pounds needed to stay healthy all winter.

Since bears can lose more than thirty percent of their body weight over their long winter’s fast, you’d think they’d make a beeline for the nearest food source. But most bears emerge drowsy and lethargic and spend their first few days drinking lots of water.

Read our latest article to learn more about bear activity in March: bearwise.org/what-bears-do-in-march

03/05/2026

Yep, bears are starting to wake up around here.

Remember all that stuff you meant to take care of before spring? Bear alarm clocks will be going off before you know it. Now is the time to put your plans into action. Your goal: take action now for a BearWise year and clean up, lock up and store items securely. Here is a quick reminder list of things that could attract bears:

- Garbage: Make sure bears can’t get their paws on your garbage.
- Birdseed: Bird feeders are carry-out containers for bears. Planting a bird garden or adding a water feature are bear-friendly ways to attract more birds and no bears.
- Pet food, livestock feed: Animal feed is tasty, nutritious and a concentrated source of calories. Invest in bear-resistant containers for storing pet food and livestock feed, or plan to store it inside a sturdy, locked building.
- Vehicles with food or trash: Many bears have learned to open car doors or get in the hard way. It’s time to deep clean vehicles and add a small trash box or bag for easy daily cleanup.

Read more and access our free checklist, “How BearWise Are You?” at: bearwise.org/action-plan-for-a-bearwise-year