Colorado Parks and Wildlife has recorded a higher number of bear reports this year than 2024, a difference of over 200 sightings and conflicts. There are an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 thousand bears in Colorado, and every year, most of the incident reports stem from bears trying to access human food sources such as trash and bird feeders. Bears remain active year-round if food remains available, meaning that securing trash is just as important in January as in September.
Despite the spike in bear reports, the Western Slope has had a relatively peaceful year. CPW says that in (Area 7) Grand Junction, Mesa, and Garfield counties, reported human-bear conflicts have been significantly less than the previous five years. In (Area 8) Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Eagle and Pitkin counties, there were similarly low levels of human-bear conflict. Officials attribute these numbers to a productive year for natural food sources like wild nuts and berries. And even with this relative peace, CPW encourages the public to remain vigilant and responsible to keep both wildlife and people safe.
