Colorado is distributing $1 million in grants to 17 projects working to reduce conflicts between people and bears, Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced this week.

The Human-Bear Conflict Reduction grants fund local communities, businesses and nonprofits finding new ways to keep both people and wildlife safe — from bear-proof bins to electric fencing and education campaigns.

“Our quality of life, plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities, and jaw-dropping landscapes attract both families and animals to our state,” Polis said. “That’s why these common-sense and data-driven strategies are so important.”

The programme, created in 2021 with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, drew 27 applications this year requesting $2.2 million — more than double the available funding, a sign of how popular it has become.

Grant manager Travis Long said the measures only work with collaboration between communities, wildlife managers and individuals — and pointed to real success stories from towns that have already put the funding to use.