Dry weather could push Colorado bears into residential areas

Driving the news: Bears are waking up for the season now, with mothers and cubs expected to begin exploring over the next two months, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

State of play: Colorado is coming off a historically dry winter — and what happens next could shape bear behavior.

• CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told Axios it is unclear how the warm winter will influence bear activity.
• So far, the impact has been limited. But if drought persists, it could limit the natural food they rely on.

What they're saying: "When temps are higher, we generally shift our concern to habitat and the availability of natural food sources," Van Hoose said.

• "Since March and April are typically among our most moisture-heavy months, there is still a possibility of more snow and rain to improve natural food sources for bears in the wild."

By the numbers: Colorado Parks and Wildlife tallied 5,299 bear sighting reports last year, about a 15% increase over the previous six years, Van Hoose told us.

• A total of 1,062 calls came into CPW's Northeast region in 2025, which includes Boulder County and much of the Denver metro.

Zoom in: Boulder County alone logged 226 reports and 168 confirmed sightings.

Threat level: When natural food is scarce, bears look for easy calories — often in residential areas.

• Unsecure trash
• Bird feeders
• Fruit trees

Be smart: Those in areas with bear activity should: lock up their trash, secure feeders, pick up fruit and keep small pets inside.

The bottom line: As development pushes deeper into bear habitats, encounters are rising. Now, a dry year could accelerate that trend.