Colorado sees surge in bear encounters
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A female black bear in a tree near 14th Street and Dellwood Avenue in Boulder in 2015. Photo: Matt Jonas/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has logged more than 5,000 bear reports so far this year — the most since 2019 and a sign of growing friction where wild habitat meets human life.
Why it matters: As bear sightings and interactions climb, so do the chances of dangerous encounters for both people and bears.
Driving the news: CPW's year-end report, released Tuesday, shows an uptick in interactions with humans across Colorado, including Boulder and surrounding areas.
- CPW area wildlife manager Jason Duetsch said in a release that "Trash, bird seed, beehives, livestock, tents, homes/garages, vacation cabins, vehicles, crops and pet food have all been targets" in the Boulder County area.
By the numbers: CPW recorded 5,259 bear sightings and conflicts between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, a slight increase from the 4,996 during the same period last year.
- This year's total is the highest since 2019 (5,392), the year the agency launched its digital tracking system.
- It also exceeds the seven-year average of 4,583 bear-related reports.
Threat level: Bear activity typically slows in winter as animals enter hibernation — but that depends on whether they can still find easy meals.
- When residents leave out trash, bird feeders or pet food, bears can stay active year-round, increasing the likelihood of run-ins.
The big picture: With conflicts on the rise, CPW and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources are preparing legislation to crack down on unsecured attractants.
- The proposal would lower the threshold from "knowingly" leaving out food or trash to "negligently," making enforcement easier.
- Officers could issue a ticket on a first offense instead of giving a warning.
- Repeat offenders — three violations — would face fines rising from $2,000 to $5,000.
What they're saying: "If passed, this legislation will prevent unnecessary conflicts and save more bears from relocation or euthanasia across Colorado," the Colorado Bear Coalition posted on its site.