Conflicts between bears and humans continue to rise in many areas of Colorado, including the Front Range, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which is urging people to remove food “attractants” from their properties.
Statewide, the number of ursine sightings and conflicts with humans this year totaled 5,259 as of Dec. 1, the highest number for January through November since 5,392 in 2019. Last year, that number came in at 4,996, while in 2023, it was 2023 3,488. The seven-year average is 4,583. An estimated 17,000 to 20,000 bears make their homes in Colorado, CPW said.
“Bear-human conflicts continue to be a significant issue along the Front Range,” according to Scott Murdoch, CPW wildlife manager for an area that includes Clear Creek, Gilpin, Park counties and the west side of Jefferson County. “Roadkills were very significant this year, with a higher incidence than in previous years. There were localized food failures from the dry fall, which could be partially responsible for the higher-than-normal numbers of roadkills in the area.
“Wildlife officers continue to deal with trash and bird/hummingbird feeders,” Murdoch added. “Unoccupied homes have been of particular interest to bears this year.”
Bear conflicts were frequent in Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and the east side of Jeffco, according to the release, especially in parts of Douglas County from mid-summer into early fall. El Paso and Teller counties, including Colorado Springs, saw significant rises.
Human-bear interactions were described a “high” in the CPW area that includes Boulder, Broomfield and southern Larimer County, including Loveland and part of Weld County. Attractants in that area included trash, bird seed, beehives, livestock, tents, homes and garages, vacation cabins, vehicles and pet foods.
Summit and Grand counties saw a “significant increase” in bear home invasions, according to Jeromy Huntington, wildlife manager for that area. In Routt and Jackson counties, located in northwest Colorado, overall interactions were down but remained steady within the city limits of Steamboat Springs.
Jason Surface, wildlife manager for most of Larimer and Weld counties, said 2025 has been “a pretty quiet year” because there was adequate forage for bears in the wild. Fort Collins and nearby towns didn’t see many bear interactions.
“We had a few moving through town from time to time,” Surface said, “but they did not cause many problems.”
Counties in the Four Corners area — Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata and Montezuma — saw lots of them.
“We saw a second consecutive year of high levels of human-bear conflict with officers working around the clock much of the summer, and we continue to manage human-bear conflicts in November,” said John Livingston, public information officer for the southwest region. “This has come in the face of two winters in a row with almost no low-elevation snowpack and well below average snow in the high country, paired with a hot, dry summer with little to no moisture until heavy rains in September and October. Natural food availability was spotty in most areas, at best.”
Similar conditions were present in counties to the north of that area: Montrose, Delta, Mesa, Ouray and San Miguel.
“Our area saw a partial food failure with spotty food production and overall low mast crops (fruits, nuts, and seeds) of woody plants that serve as a crucial food source for wildlife like deer, bears, squirrels, and birds,” said wildlife manager Rachel Sralla. “This was not surprising following two consecutive winters of below average snowfall, especially at lower elevations. We had several issues of bears in homes, particularly on the west side of our coverage area as well as Telluride and Mountain Village. Roadkill mortalities were also increased with bears on the move looking for scarce natural foods available.”
But in Eagle and Pitkin counties, which include Aspen and Glenwood Springs, conflicts were “remarkably low,” according to wildlife manager Matt Yamashita. The Gunnison Basin, San Luis Valley and Upper Arkansas River Valley had average years.
Mesa and Garfield counties, including Grand Junction, had “significantly less” than in the previous five years, according to wildlife manager Kirk Oldham.
“Despite a relatively dry spring and early summer, natural food sources later in the summer and early fall were productive,” Oldham said. “This doesn’t mean our communities do not need to stay vigilant and engaged on reducing attractants.”
CPW maintains a webpage describing black bear behavior, what to do to avoid attracting them and what to do in the event of a confrontation.