A summer of consistent bear encounters has led to a Forest Service order closing camping at crater lake in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.
Sam Cooper, who works for the forest service, said that increasing encounters with Black Bears and
back-country campers have occurred throughout the summer, including bears stalking campsites and taking unattended bags of food.
"If the bears do decide to hurt someone, they kill the bears so it’s kind of, protect the bears and protect the people” said Cooper.
Even day hikers are being encouraged to avoid picnicking in the popular hiking destination.
On Wednesday, campers were given 24 hours notice to leave, the Forest service will be using tasers and rubber buckshot rounds fired from shotguns to to scare away the bears that have become habituated in the area. Black bear sightings were also reported at the much lower Scenic Loop trail yesterday.