No bear attacks have been reported this season, but recent spikes in activity have put residents and wildlife officials on alert.
Reports of bear activity and human-bear encounters have climbed across Southwest Colorado in recent months, including for Dolores, Mancos and the San Juan National Forest, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife data.
On Friday, one local took to Facebook. the post read:
“Hey everyone, I just saw a big, brown bear walking down Central Street in Dolores.”
The post sparked debate over whether grizzlies – long absent from Colorado – roam near the canyon or the Dolores River. Others suggested it was a light-brown American black bear, possibly blond or with a cinnamon tint. One user joked the animal was likely searching for apples, adding it “comes to my orchard every night” and it must have “moved downtown now.”
Another user asked for proof: “I’ve lived in Dolores for 12 years and haven’t seen a bear yet,” the comment read. Moments later, a photo appeared: a big, brown-furry animal perusing prowling through a yard, its eye glinting in the camera flash.
Some residents on Facebook offered the same sound advice wildlife experts and law officials give: urging caution and staying vigilant during peak bear-bulking season ahead of hibernation.
They reminded neighbors to stay aware – to “keep their heads on a swivel” – especially with natural food sources like berries, chokecherries and acorns running scarce. The post serves as a seasonal reminder of life in mountain country, where people and wildlife coexist and occasionally cross paths.
“This year, activity has been exponentially greater,” said John Livingston, public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southwest Region.
“This is likely one of the biggest conflict years since 2017,” he said.
Bear conflicts in Dolores and Montezuma counties have risen sharply over the past three years, reflecting statewide increases.
Reports for the area rose nearly 50% since 2023, with 113 incidents through early October, compared with 76 last year. Although this falls below 2024’s total of 141, officials note the year isn’t over – and fall is typically one of the busiest months for bear encounters.
Most incidents – 72 of 113 – involved food-related property damage, such as bears breaking into trash, fruit trees, sheds or feeders. That proportion remains consistent with past years, showing that unsecured human food remains the greatest driver of conflict.
Aggressive-behavior reports are low, with only three cases in 2025 and one in 2024.
Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said his office has handled “several bear reports a week” this summer, describing it as “more active this year than it’s been.”
His comments echo what state wildlife officials have seen across the San Juans – hungry bears roaming nearer homes and trash bins as food supplies thin in the mountains.
“We’ve had a dry summer and poor natural food production, which pushes bears into towns,” Livingston said.
The dry season is critically affecting what natural resources bears can access. The region has experienced two consecutive years of low moisture at lower elevations, Livingston said.
Nowlin added: “The fires haven’t helped, and when they do prescribed burns, that destroys a lot of the natural food sources they have.”
Some oak trees produced acorns this year while others didn’t, Livingston said, and chokecherries came in weak overall. As a result, bears are seeking alternative food sources to meet their daily 20,000-calorie needs.
Bears work nearly nonstop during hyperphagia to stay healthy through winter.
In late summer and early fall, before denning, bears are more active and visible throughout the day, staying awake for up to 20 hours instead of their usual eight to 10.
Livingston emphasized that this time of year, residents are more likely to encounter them in daylight.
While no bear attacks – meaning intentional contact with a human – have been reported in Southwest Colorado this year, there have been several incidents of bears entering occupied homes.
In those cases, people should immediately call law enforcement. These are treated as serious conflicts but remain rare.
CPW encourages residents to report any bear sightings, even if the animal just passes through. Reporting helps with data collection and allows CPW to identify patterns or recurring bears in certain areas.
In 2024, CPW logged 5,022 bear reports statewide, with 2,225 involving property damage. More than half were due to bears getting into trash bins or dumpsters – a top concern of CPW and local officials.
Nowlin emphasized the issue is primarily “a people problem, not a bear problem.”
“They live with us, and they’re here. We just have to educate folks on how to keep them wild and coexist with them,” he said.
CPW is seeing more calls about bears getting into trash, livestock feed and yards. Livingston said more people are keeping hobby livestock – like chickens, goats or beehives – and growing fruit trees, both of which draw bears if not protected.
He also emphasized that most conflicts are preventable:
“When bears find easy food sources, they’ll keep coming back,” Livingston said. “Simple steps like securing trash and removing attractants go a long way in keeping both people and bears safe.”
Communities in Montezuma County have used grant funding to install bear-resistant trash containers and food lockers at campgrounds, part of CPW’s Human–Bear Conflict Reduction Program. Mancos School District, for example, is receiving funds this year for additional bear-resistant containers on school campuses.
Communities in Montezuma County have used grant funding to install bear-resistant trash containers and food lockers at campgrounds, part of CPW’s Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Program. Mancos School District is receiving funds this year for additional bear-resistant containers on school campuses.
CPW encourages people to call the agency if they spot a bear. After 5 p.m., emergencies are routed to county dispatch. If a bear gets into your home, immediately dial 911.
Tips to stay safe:
- Runners and hikers should skip earbuds to hear nearby animals.
- If you encounter a bear, don’t approach. Stop, give it space, make yourself look big and shout “Hey, bear!” – but ensure it has an escape route.
- If the animal lingers, toss pine cones or small rocks to haze it away without harm.
- Around homes and schools, use loud noises – clapping, banging pots or air horns – to keep bears from getting comfortable.
- Learn warning signs: grunts, jaw-popping or teeth-clicking mean you’re too close and need to back off.
