Fall in Colorado means football season.

And now that the Denver Broncos have a new owner, a new head coach and a certain new, star quarterback, they are clearly back in the spotlight (although not always for the right reasons).

You know who else is back in the spotlight in the fall in Colorado?

Da Bears!     

Yes, it’s been more than 30 years since that sketch celebrating the Chicago Bears was first popular on Saturday Night Live. But go with us on this one, as our own version of the Super Fans tackles this most important topic:

Bear sightings at Denver Water’s property in Waterton Canyon are common, particularly in years like this, when a late dose of cold weather in the spring limited the bears’ food sources.

Waterton Canyon is one of the few areas that still provides a bounty of food for wildlife preparing for winter.

Bear sightings have increased in the canyon in recent weeks, including the sighting of a mother with her cubs and another cub who appears to be without a mother. 

And just like you wouldn’t get too close to an office linebacker, (another blast from the past) it’s important to give these bears space, too.

“It’s important to maintain at least 150 feet of distance should you see a bear,” said Danielle Compton, a recreation ranger in Waterton Canyon for Denver Water. 

“We don’t want these bears becoming comfortable around people, because the more comfortable they become, the more it increases the likelihood they’ll continue to interact with the public.”

And nobody is a fan of that.

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So here are some things you can do in Waterton Canyon to keep you and the bears safe:

1. Stay on the path when hiking or biking in Waterton Canyon. This decreases the chance you’ll stumble upon a bear at close range.
2. If you see a bear, you can deter it from the road by yelling, clapping or making loud noises. Just pretend the Broncos finally scored a touchdown in the red zone.
3. If you bring food in the canyon, don’t leave leftovers behind. Once a bear finds an easy source of food, it will come back to that same spot again and again.

“If the bears become too much of a danger, we have to close the canyon to recreation,” Compton said. 

“We want to do everything possible to avoid that. And visitors can play a big role in keeping the canyon open while keeping themselves and the bears safe.”

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Compton also encourages visitors not to stop on the roadway while hiking up the canyon. There are rest areas available every couple of miles to use for breaks. This will keep the roadway open for vehicles working on other projects in Waterton Canyon.

Canyon visitors only need to heed these cautions for a few more weeks. After all, hibernation season is coming soon for the bears. 

Hopefully, the Broncos don’t follow suit.