A Pitkin County man charged with killing a mother bear has paid a fine of nearly $1400.  According to The Aspen Daily News 49 yr old Brian Heeney was first alerted about a bear being on his property by his barking dogs and then went after it with a shotgun.  Heeney ultimately sent a letter to his neighbors apologizing for the incident but also wrote that the bear had a history of aggression and he felt his safety was in jeopardy.  Brian Heeney was officially charged with the unlawful taking of wildlife.  The officers did manage to capture the bear’s two cubs.  Meanwhile Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials remind us this is the time of year bears go foraging for food to get ready for winter and since this has been a tough year because of the drought bears may be more likely to come closer to our neighborhoods.  Officials say we should keep our trash locked up and don’t leave birdfeeders out.  And be sure to close the windows and doors in your home closed.