Officials Encourage Vigilance After Two More Bear Attacks in Colorado Mountain Towns
Following two more bear attacks in Colorado this week, Colorado Parks & Wildlife is urging the public to stay vigilant outside and remove anything that could attract bears.
The agency said in a release that wildlife officers have been responding to a record number of bear reports, a surge in activity the CPW attributed to low mountain snowpack, wildfires and drought, all of which make it harder for bears to find food.
Large parts of Colorado are in “extreme” or “exceptional” drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and the state saw far less snow than usual last winter, shuttering ski resorts early and frustrating skiers.
In response to the tough conditions, the bears are traveling farther into residential areas in hopes of scoring easy calories, like unsecured trash, birdseed, pet food, and barbecue grills, the CPW said.
In late summer and early fall, black bears also enter a phase called hyperphagia, where they can spend almost the entire day searching for food to fatten themselves up for winter. During this phase, bears are more likely to enter human-occupied areas.
Bear Attacks in Aspen and Steamboat Springs
The latest attacks came in two separate mountain towns: Aspen and Steamboat Springs.
The CPW said that in Steamboat Springs, a woman alerted wildlife officers on the morning of Tuesday, August 18, to report that a bear had entered her home near Fish Creek Falls Road through a sliding glass door. When she tried to chase the bear outside, it struck her face, leaving cuts.
She was able to drive herself to the hospital, where she was treated and later sent home to recover.
Wildlife officers collected hair samples from the broken door for DNA analysis and set a trap at the property while alerting neighbors to take preventative precautions.
Wildlife officers responded to the Aspen attack just after 3 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19. A man experiencing homelessness had been sleeping in Rio Grande Park when a bear approached him and began sniffing him before biting his head, waking him up.
The man escaped his sleeping bag, got away from the bear, and called for help. He was taken to a hospital and has since been released.
Officers found and “humanely euthanized” a female bear without cubs matching the description gathered during an investigation, the CPW said. The bear’s carcass was sent to the CPW Wildlife Health Lab in Fort Collins, where a full necropsy and DNA analysis will be performed.
The attacks follow another near Eagle-Vail. Earlier this week, a man was leaving a building laundry room when he encountered a female bear. The bear swiped his arm, scratching him. As the man fled, he tripped and injured his foot.
In Breckenridge, a bear also recently entered a hotel and took some M&Ms before being scared off by local police.
Bear Safety Tips
The CPW shared tips on how to stay safe in bear country.
- Never feed or approach bears. Intentionally feeding wildlife or letting them find accessible food is illegal. It teaches them to approach homes and lose their natural fear of humans.
- Safely store trash, animal feed, and other attractants. Lock up trash receptacles and food scraps to eliminate the powerful odors that attract wildlife to residential properties.
- Never leave pet food outdoors. Feed domestic pets indoors or thoroughly clean up bowls immediately after any outdoor feeding.
- Clean and store outdoor grills. Burn off grease and food particles after every use, and store grills inside a secure garage or shed.
- Secure windows and doors. Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked, including garage doors. Bears are excellent climbers, so this includes any top-story exterior windows or doors.
- Know what to do if a bear does enter your home. If a bear is in your house, leave immediately if you can safely do so. Leave all exit doors open to give the bear a clear escape route, do not block its path, and never try to shoo or corner the animal out of your home. Call 911 immediately and remain outside until wildlife officers have confirmed the bear is out of the home.
- Know what to do if you encounter a black bear. If you see a bear before it notices you, don’t approach. Stop and quietly move away, while giving the bear a clear escape route. If a bear sees you, back away slowly. Never run; running may trigger a chase response. If a bear approaches, hold your ground, wave your arms and yell, “Hey, Bear!” until it leaves. If a black bear makes contact with you, do NOT play dead; fight back aggressively.
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