Colorado saw fewer human-bear conflicts in 2023 due to good natural food production compared to recent years; CPW provides bear media kit

Joey Livingston
Statewide Public Information Officer
303-345-4658 / [email protected]

DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,526 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears in 2023, which is a 21 percent decrease from the average number of reports received in 2019 - 2023. Trash continues to be the number one source of conflicts between humans and bears. 

Of the 3,526 reports CPW received in 2023, 1,795 resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle, fence, etc. Around 92 percent of property damage reported from bears is linked to an attractant of some kind, with over 51 percent linked to trash, 20 percent to livestock, chickens and beehives, and 19 percent to bird seed, pet food, barbeque grills, coolers and refrigerators.

[WATCH] Progression map shows reported bear activity across Colorado in 2023

CPW bear reporting system
In 2019, CPW launched a new bear reporting system to help wildlife managers track and quantify bear activity and conflicts across the state. The data collected is used to see overall trends and identify sources of conflict on a localized, regional and statewide level. Since its implementation in April 2019, CPW has recorded 21,310 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears. 

The data from the annual bear cycle informs CPW’s wildlife managers where bears are at and what they are up to, helping CPW identify sources of conflict and make educated management decisions. If you see a bear causing trouble in an urban area, call CPW to report it.

Human-bear conflict reduction grants
In an effort to help communities co-exist with bears, CPW provides local Colorado communities with financial resources to support efforts that reduce human-bear conflicts through its Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program. Last spring, CPW awarded nearly $1 million in funding to local communities, municipalities, businesses and nonprofit organizations for projects working to create innovative ways to reduce human-bear conflicts and keep communities safe. Follow the links above to learn about human-bear conflict reductions grants and find out if your community is eligible. 

“Collaboration with local communities is vital to successfully reducing human-bear conflicts and CPW cannot do it alone,” said CPW Grant Manager Travis Long, manager of the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program. “Without individuals and communities taking some action and following proper guidelines on living with bears, the number of conflicts will not go down. Fortunately, the funding CPW provides can help empower communities to take the proper actions.”

Recapping bear reports from 2023
There are an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 bears in Colorado and every year the majority of incident reports involve bears trying to access human food sources. 2023 was no different with trash continuing to be the number one source of conflicts. Other constant sources of conflict included birdfeeders, livestock and bears accessing open garages and other human-originated items that are left unsecured. These conflicts could all easily be reduced if the public takes some simple steps around their homes and properties to prevent bears from accessing them.

Nature and human behavior play a role in the amount of bear activity that we see annually. Drought conditions and other factors that may influence the availability of natural food crops for bears, such as a late freeze, vary across the state, as does the behavior of people when it relates to human-bear interactions. 

In 2023, the majority of the East Slope received adequate temperatures and rainfall to produce natural forage for bears. Compared to 2022, reports on the East Slope remained steady with CPW’s Northeast region receiving 905 reports and the Southeast regions receiving 696 reports.

CPW’s Northwest region has the largest bear population in the state and received 1,228 reports, a 35 percent reduction from the previous year. Despite good natural forage in the area, an unreasonable number of bears were reported entering homes. Reports remained steady in CPW’s Southwest region at 697. 

Report bear sightings and conflicts to CPW
One concern CPW is aware of from the public is a reluctance to report bear activity over a belief it will lead to the bear being put down. Data shows that of the 3,526 reports wildlife managers received on bears in 2023, only 1.8% led to euthanization. The vast majority led to wildlife officers getting involved early enough to prevent the need to euthanize a bear. 

When CPW is made aware, especially when conflicts first begin, wildlife officers can educate the community, make site visits to homes to help them secure attractants and can haze bears in an attempt to reinforce their natural fear of humans. In some circumstances, wildlife officers can attempt to relocate bears out of conflict areas to alleviate safety concerns or before that animal's behavior escalates to a dangerous level which may require euthanization. However, wildlife officers stress relocation is not a fix-all solution as there is no way to unteach a bear once it learns that homes, garages or vehicles might contain food. 

Below is the number of reports and bears euthanized and relocated by CPW annually since 2020:

2023: 3,526 reports, 33 relocated, 63 euthanized 
2022: 4,147 reports, 59 relocated, 94 euthanized
2021: 3,598 reports, 51 relocated, 66 euthanized 
2020*: 4,806 reports, 118 relocated, 158 euthanized

*2020 was a notoriously bad year for natural forage production with drought conditions and a late spring freeze severely limiting berry and shrub oak availability. These conditions led to a disproportionately high number of human-bear conflicts.

Become Bear Aware
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a reminder that by taking some simple precautions, you can avoid human/wildlife conflicts and help to keep bears wild. 

Bear-proofing your home:

• Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
• Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
• Keep garage doors closed, Do not leave pet food or stock feed outside.
• Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
• Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
• Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
• Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
• Clean the grill after each use, clean-up thoroughly after cookouts.
• If you have fruit trees, don't allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
• Talk to your neighbors and kids about being Bear Aware.

Cars, traveling and campsites:

• Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
• Keep the bottom floor windows of your house closed when you're not at home.
• Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
• When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
• Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
• When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
• Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

Protecting your chickens, bees, livestock:

• Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure, especially at night. 
• Construct electric fencing when possible.
• Don’t store livestock feed outside.
• Keep enclosures clean to minimize animal odors. 
• Hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure as a scent deterrent.

Media resources
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is providing additional resources to assist with media coverage on being Bear Aware in Colorado this year so residents can work towards keeping our bears wild.

The link below contains:

• Facts and figures folder with: 2023 bear report breakdowns, bear report progression map, black bears at a glance fact sheet, sample bear reports, bear aware materials
• Folders with photos and videos from bear encounters for use by media outlets

Click for 2024 Bear Media Package Thank you for helping CPW spread the word on the importance of being Bear Aware and making small adjustments to your home and outdoor routines to keep wildlife in mind.