Colorado Reports 4 August Black Bear Attacks as Drought Drives 219% Jump in Sightings
Updated
Updated · KUNC · Aug 22
Colorado Reports 4 August Black Bear Attacks as Drought Drives 219% Jump in Sightings
3 articles · Updated · KUNC · Aug 22
Summary
Two people were injured in new black bear attacks announced by Colorado Parks and Wildlife: a woman was cut in the face after a bear broke into her Steamboat Springs home, and a man sleeping in Aspen was bitten on the head.
The Aspen bear was tracked down and euthanized, while officials in Steamboat Springs collected fur for DNA testing and set traps near the home where the bear forced open a sliding glass door.
Those cases brought Colorado's August total to four black bear attacks and the 2026 total to five, up from three attacks in 2025 and one in 2024.
CPW linked the surge to drought, saying food-seeking bears have driven a record number of incidents statewide, with sightings up 219% from 2025.
The agency urged residents to secure trash, pet food, grills, windows and doors, and to leave a home immediately and call 911 if a bear gets inside.