Bears

2 More bear attacks in southwestern Colorado add to a record season of conflicts with humans. Read the article from the Colorado Sun and then listen to the interview with KUNC host Marty Lenz.

Wildlife officials in the Rocky Mountain region are reporting far more trouble than usual between black bears and people this summer. Bears are wandering into urban areas, getting trapped in cars, raiding trash cans and sometimes attacking people.

The late-summer surge of bear sightings continues across Colorado, with the most recent involving a cub in Boulder County that needed rescue.

According to a press release, the latest happened Friday evening, Aug. 21. A man was heading back to his vehicle after a day of fishing along the North Fork Trail in Jefferson County. That’s when a bear knocked the man to the ground and bit his legs.

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.

Routt County’s number of reported bear sightings is up 219% from 2025 due to ongoing drought. That’s according to new data from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a woman encountered an aggressive bear while hiking on a trail.

Wildlife officials say when climate conditions impact natural food for bears, they can be drawn into human sources.

2025 included 5,259 bear reports. This is the highest number since 2019, when Colorado Parks and Wildlife first started keeping track.

Late-spring frosts aren’t just tough on gardens — they’re creating new challenges for black bears in the Mountain West.