Colorado HB26-1342 would make it a misdemeanor to put up a bird feeder. No intent required. No warning. No second chance. 1.7 million Colorado bird watchers need your voice. #SaveCOBirdFeeders
HB26-1342 aims to reduce bear-human conflict, but its overly broad language captures responsible bird watchers alongside bad actors.
1. Zero Tolerance Fines. The bill eliminates the mandatory first-offense warning. Under current law, a wildlife officer must warn you before issuing a citation. HB26-1342 removes that protection entirely. A bear knocks down your feeder while you're at work? A wildlife officer can skip the warning and hand you a fine immediately — no conversation, no chance to fix the problem.
2. An Unattainable Standard. It is nearly impossible to "bear-proof" a bird feeder. Bears can reach feeders hung 8 feet high, tear down poles, and are attracted by scent alone — even to feeders they cannot physically access. Treating every bird feeder owner like a criminal for wanting to see chickadees and nuthatches in their backyard sets an impossible standard for ordinary Coloradans.
3. "Intent" Replaced with "Knowingly." Under the old law, prosecutors had to prove you intended to lure a bear. Under HB26-1342, simply placing bird seed where a bear could reasonably appear is enough for a criminal misdemeanor. Bird seed is one of the most commonly cited "negligent" bear attractants — this bill puts every bird feeder in the crosshairs.
Who is affected: This is not a partisan issue. Colorado's 1.7 million bird watchers are homeowners, seniors, families, school children learning about nature, veterans, educators, and retirees across every county and every political affiliation — all united by a love of backyard birds. This bill threatens a peaceful Colorado pastime that crosses every demographic line.
Peer-reviewed science and federal data show bird feeding is essential for public health, wildlife conservation, and Colorado's economy.
A landmark study found that the abundance of afternoon birds in residential neighborhoods is significantly associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety, and stress — regardless of income, age, or urban density. Even brief daily exposure to birds improves psychological well-being.
Research demonstrated that Black-capped Chickadees with access to supplemental feeding stations had winter survival rates of 69%, compared to just 37% for unfed populations — nearly doubling their chances during Colorado's harshest months and late-spring snowstorms.
European researchers found that a 10% increase in bird species richness in a person's surroundings raised their life satisfaction by an amount comparable to a similar increase in income. Biodiversity at bird feeders directly contributes to human well-being.
The USFWS National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation documents 1.76 million people participating specifically in bird watching in Colorado, generating $2.4 billion in total economic output including equipment, travel, and accommodations.
The Great Backyard Bird Count engages over 385,000 participants annually, generating critical population data used by ornithologists. Supplemental feeding stations serve as observation points that advance our understanding of species distribution, migration patterns, and population health.
Colorado is a critical corridor for the Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird. Supplemental feeding provides a vital safety net during late-spring snowstorms and natural food failures — events that are becoming more frequent with climate variability.
HB26-1342 already exempts agriculture and chicken coops. We are asking for the same consistency for bird feeders.
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