Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) received 5,299 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears in 2025, which is 15 percent higher than the previous six years. Trash continues to be the No. 1 source of conflicts between humans and bears.
Of the 5,299 reports CPW received in 2025, 2,448 resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle, fence, etc. More than 57 percent were linked to trash; 18 percent to livestock, chickens and beehives; and 16 percent to bird seed, pet food, barbecue grills, coolers and refrigerators.
CPW bear reporting system
In 2019, CPW launched a 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 32,212 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.
Recapping bear reports from 2025
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.
2025 was no different, with trash continuing to be the No. 1 source of conflicts. Other constant sources of conflict included bird feeders, 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 2025, Colorado experienced varying levels of human-bear conflicts, with some areas seeing increases while others saw declines.
Natural food conditions were inconsistent across the state, influenced by localized droughts, late frosts and variable precipitation. Some regions, particularly those with poor acorn and berry production, reported increased bear activity in residential areas, leading to property damage and vehicle collisions.
Trash management remains a leading factor in human-bear interactions, with unsecured garbage, bird feeders and improperly stored food continuing to attract bears.
While educational initiatives and community efforts have helped mitigate some issues, the need for improved coexistence practices, including securing attractants and reinforcing bear-proofing measures, remains critical.
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 5,229 reports wildlife managers received on bears in 2025, only 1.47 percent 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.
As a member of BearWise, CPW encourages everyone to share BearWise information with their neighbors and communities to help prevent conflicts with bears.
CPW asks all residents and visitors to help save Colorado’s bears by being actively bear prepared throughout the year. Human-bear conflicts are most often traced back to human behavior.
Living BearWise is the most effective way to prevent human-caused conflicts with bears.
For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/living-bears. If you have questions or need to report bear problems, call your nearest CPW office.