There has been a surge in black bear attacks across Colorado.
Most recently, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced two attacks in Steamboat Springs and Aspen.
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According to a press release, a woman was attacked Tuesday, Aug. 18, at her home off Fish Creek Falls Road in Steamboat Springs. The report says the bear entered after breaking a sliding glass door off its track around 1:00 a.m.
The woman at home tried to chase the bear out, but it struck her in the face, causing cuts. She drove herself to a local hospital.
Responding wildlife officials recovered the bear's fur to obtain a DNA sample. They have since set up traps in the area.
The other incident took place Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen around 3:00 a.m. The report said a man who was sleeping in the park was approached by a bear, which began sniffing him before biting his head. The man was able to get out of a sleeping bag and call for help. The victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital and later released.
Wildlife officials were able to track down the bear and euthanize the animal.
Before these two incidents, two earlier incidents in EagleVail and Snowmass brought the total number of black bear attacks in August to four. That’s according to the Steamboat Pilot, which reports five attacks so far in 2026. In 2025, there were three attacks, and just one attack in 2024.
CPW officials say they’ve seen a record number of bear incidents across the state. In fact, there’s been a 219% increase in bear sightings compared to 2025.
Earlier this month, the wildlife agency spoke to KUNC and said the increase in bear and human conflicts is related to this year’s drought.
“Bears right now are in search of food, and they are opportunistic,” CPW Public Information Officer Rachael Gonzales said earlier this month. “They're looking for things right now that are going to continue to sustain them through the rest of summer.”
CPW is now urging residents to be vigilant and follow BearWise steps to protect property, people and wildlife:
- 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.
