Of the 5,299 reports CPW received in 2025, 2,448 resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle, fence, etc. Over 57% were linked to trash, 18% to livestock, chickens and beehives, and 16% to bird seed, pet food, barbeque grills, coolers and refrigerators.
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 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 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.
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% 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 2022:
2025: 5,299 reports, 52 relocated, 78 euthanized
2024: 5,022 reports, 68 relocated, 98 euthanized
2023: 3,528 reports, 33 relocated, 63 euthanized
2022: 4,293 reports, 59 relocated, 94 euthanized
For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/living-bears.
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