This story is being provided free to all readers due to concerns of public safety. To support the continuation of this kind of work in Fort Collins, please purchase a digital subscription to Coloradoan.com.

A bear sighting in southwest Fort Collins has prompted a public warning from Colorado wildlife officials.

A bear was seen "running around" the area of the Shields Street and Harmony Road intersection on Tuesday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Jason Clay posted via social media.

Clay later told the Coloradoan that the bear had last been seen running in a street Tuesday morning. Residents told the Coloradoan that they have seen a mother bear and her cub in the area during the past week.

CPW warned that bears can be dangerous when they become comfortable around people and asked the public to do their part to avoid attracting them.

CPW asked residents in the area to remove all food attractants, including dirty grills, grounded fruit, pet food and bird feeders, from their property.

CPW also encouraged residents to haze the bear from their neighborhood or backyard by making loud noises, including blowing an air horn, setting off the panic button on their vehicle or banging pots and pans.

Any bear that is aggressive or does not show fear of people should be avoided. Residents who spot such an animal are asked to call CPW at 970-472-4300.

How to bearproof your home

To prevent bears from entering a residence, close and lock all bear-accessible windows and doors when you leave the house and at night before you go to bed.

Keep garage doors and windows closed and locked at night and when you’re not home.

Keep car doors and windows closed and locked if you park outside. Make sure there’s nothing with an odor in your vehicle, including candy, gum, air fresheners, trash, lotions and lip balms.

Remove attractants, like trash, or place them in bear-proof containers.

It is recommended not to feed birds when bears are active.

If a bear comes into your yard or close to your home, scare it away using loud noises like a firm yell, clapping your hands, banging on pots and pans, or blowing an air horn.

If a bear enters your home, open doors and windows and make sure it can leave the same way it got in.

If a bear won’t leave, call your local CPW office. If a bear presents an immediate threat to human safety, call 911.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Coloradoan editor Eric Larsen can be reached at ericlarsen@coloradoan.com or 970-224-7745. To support local journalism in Fort Collins and help the Coloradoan reach its goal of reaching 20,000 digital subscribers by the end of 2020, visit offers.coloradoan.com/specialoffer.