Colorado’s K-9 cops like chew toys, scratches and keeping black bears alive

Samson, a Belgian Malinois in Colorado Parks and Wildlife's K-9 unit, is trained to detect items like dental floss, assist in poacher busts, and deter black bears from human areas to prevent euthanasia. Funded by a $12,000 grant from Ben Roethlisberger, the program addresses rising bear conflicts in Colorado, where the population has grown to 17,000–20,000.