Colorado Logs 3 Bear Attacks in 3 Days as Incidents Jump 97% in 2026
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 20
Colorado Logs 3 Bear Attacks in 3 Days as Incidents Jump 97% in 2026
2 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 20
Summary
Three consecutive days of bear attacks in Colorado this week capped a sharp rise in encounters, with state officials recording 6,129 bear-related reports through Aug. 13.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife tied the surge to severe drought, wildfire disruption and scarce natural food, saying bears are increasingly entering homes, vehicles and public spaces to forage.
Wednesday's Aspen attack left a homeless man with head and facial injuries after a bear bit him as he slept; officials later euthanized the female bear.
Tuesday in Steamboat Springs, a bear broke through a sliding glass door and struck a woman in the face, after Monday's Eagle-Vail attack in an apartment laundry room injured a man.
The pattern extends across the West: South Lake Tahoe bear calls are up 80%, New Mexico says conflicts are at their highest since 2013-14, and Colorado now allows fines of up to $5,000 for knowingly leaving out bear-attracting food or trash.