A Colorado man believed to have left food for a neighborhood bear population avoided a trial last week when he agreed to out of court mediation for the issue.  Concerns were raised by state wildlife officials, who were afraid that food being left was leading the bears to stay longer than they otherwise would have planned, thus increasing the risk of danger in the neighborhood. 

The man, Charles Medina, might be forced to pay a $68 fine is mediation talks are not successful in addressing the misdemeanor feeding bear charges.  The stakes, according to wildlife officials, are actually much higher, since drawing the bears into local territory could lead to bear attacks and increased dangers for neighborhoods with small children. 

Department of Parks and Wildlife representatives noted that if bears become accustomed to being fed by human populations, eventually they have to be put down.  Medina is actually facing his first violation, but his wife, Jo Ann, has been cited on four previous occasions for illegally feeding wildlife after the couple’s neighbors reported encounters with black bears.  One neighbor mentioned seeing 10 different bears stopping at the Medina home after one of the residents left food for the animals. 

Investigators were called to the house when several plastic bins willed with dog food and birdseed were spotted on the Medina property.  The wife claimed that her attempts to put food outside were simply to provide meals for squirrels and birds, although she mentioned curbing the behavior on advice from her attorneys. 

Through the mediation program run by the Neighborhood Justice Center, the charges might be dismissed against Charles Medina if an agreement is achieved.  State wildlife provisions require that homeowners keep their property free of food sources for wild life (and this includes garbage and any pet food that might attract the animals).