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GRAND JUNCTION — A bear and her two cubs were killed this week near Grand Junction by Colorado wildlife authorities after the bears became a nuisance.

The (Grand Junction) Sentinel reported that the bears were killed after eating from garbage cans from Aspen to the Grand Junction area. Parks and Wildlife spokesman Mike Porras said the bears were killed near Interstate 70 on Tuesday.

Porras says that wildlife officers "hate doing this" but have no choice but to put down bears that become too comfortable around people. Porras renewed his agency's call for people to secure their garbage, especially in the weeks just before bears begin hibernating.

This time of year, bears need to put on about 20,000 calories a day — the equivalent of 70 Big Macs from McDonald's.

Learn more about living in bear country, including how to secure your trash cans and prevent bears from seeking food near your home.

PHOTO:  File photo of a black bear in Colorado. (This is not one of the bears shot this week.)  Colorado Parks and Wildlife