Colorado's dry winter and early spring could drive more bears into Front Range neighborhoods as they emerge from hibernation and search for food.

Why it matters: Wildlife experts say drought can shrink natural food supplies, increasing the chances of encounters that put both people and wildlife at risk.

Driving the news: Bears are waking up for the season, 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's 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.

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

• Unsecure trash
• Bird feeders
• Fruit trees

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

Glenn's thought bubble: I've seen bears aplenty in and around the apparently well-named Bear Creek Regional Park in the last two years, and it seems I'm not alone.

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

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• Be smart: Reserve regular daytime tickets in advance.

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Zoom in: The vast majority — $3.5 million from a 5% sales tax — is earmarked for the police and fire departments, mental health services, and PTSD treatment for veterans.

• "This allows us to maintain our staffing levels and ultimately provide a safer community," Deputy Fire Chief Tim DeLeon told KKTV.

Context: The Springs jumped on the bandwagon in 2024.

• The conservative-leaning city — Colorado's second-largest — stood firm against recreational cannabis sales for a decade, even as the rest of the state embraced legalization.

Yes, but: The city was counting on $4 million annually from its sales tax to help with its $31 million shortfall.

Caveat: Licensed stores in the Springs didn't start selling until May 2025, according to city tax revenue reports, so a true annual average could be higher.

Zoom out: Statewide, marijuana revenue has been dropping from its peak in 2021, due to increased supply and competition from other states.