Residents across the western United States are witnessing an unprecedented rise in bear encounters as hungry animals increasingly venture into towns, homes, and businesses amid a widespread shortage of natural food. This surge has been linked to the driest winter on record, which severely diminished the availability of plants, berries, nuts, and grasses that typically comprise around 90 percent of black bears’ diets.
Several incidents have illustrated the expanding reach of these animals, including two young black bears entering a Colorado home in Granby, about 92 kilometers northwest of Denver, as well as bears being spotted near schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and climbing trees close to a Denver farmers market. Wildlife officials attribute many of these encounters to the animals’ acute sense of smell drawing them to human food sources, which have become a critical substitute in the face of natural scarcity.
Colorado, in particular, has experienced a significant increase in bear activity, with more than 7,000 sightings reported in 2026 alone—surpassing the previous full-year record from 2019. The state, home to an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 black bears, has also seen at least six bear attacks this year. This rise coincides with a doubling of Colorado’s human population over the last five decades, leading to more residential development encroaching on bear habitats around cities such as Colorado Springs and Vail.
Authorities in multiple states have responded by euthanizing bears considered dangerous, including those involved in attacks or home intrusions. In Colorado, about 1.5 to 2 percent of sightings result in euthanization, according to the state wildlife agency. New Mexico has reported killing 187 bears this year—the highest toll since 2011—and relocating several others. A recent fatal bear attack in New Mexico was the first in that state in 25 years. Utah has also recorded a record number of bear euthanasias in 2026, and Montana is seeing large numbers of grizzly bears returning to areas not visited in decades, with 24 grizzly deaths reported this year due to conflicts with humans or vehicles. A fatal grizzly attack occurred in Glacier National Park in Montana earlier in May.
Wildlife experts warn that ongoing climate shifts and increasing aridification in the West may exacerbate these trends, potentially leading bears to become habituated to human food sources and alter natural behaviors such as hibernation. “It’s like testing the bears in a way that they’ve never been tested before, and testing humans,” said black bear specialist Jon Beckmann.
Development pressures also play a crucial role, with expanding human populations pushing settlements into historical bear habitats. While black bears have made a population comeback after being nearly wiped out in some states over the past century, this recovery presents new challenges for wildlife management.
Conservation groups argue that many bear deaths result from avoidable human negligence and advocate for proactive measures. Officials urge residents to use bear-resistant garbage containers, avoid leaving trash outdoors for extended periods, and keep pet food and bird seed away from bear access points. Early reporting of bear sightings can enable wildlife managers to respond with non-lethal interventions, potentially preventing euthanizations.
Some experts, like Nevada bear specialist Heather Reich, hope bears will eventually find human settlements too stressful and retreat back to wild habitats when drought conditions ease. However, with bears currently beginning their pre-hibernation weight gain, Reich anticipates a difficult autumn season for bear-human interactions. “We can’t even imagine what September and October are going to look like. It is going to be just Armageddon for us,” she said, highlighting growing concerns about coexistence in changing environmental conditions.