Adam Silverstein and his husband, Austin, relocated from London to rural Teller County, Colorado, last year, expecting a peaceful mountain life but encountering a frequent presence of black bears in their new neighborhood. The couple purchased their home, about two hours south of Denver, in the summer, discovering quickly that coexistence with local wildlife, including bear encounters, was a routine part of daily life.
Upon moving in, they noticed damage to their shed door, which an estate agent casually attributed to a bear. Silverstein soon realized that sightings were common—approximately every few weeks—as black bears roamed near their property. He recounted spotting one bear just a short walk from his house, emphasizing the unusual experience of observing such a large wild animal one moment and continuing with daily activities the next.
Residents in the area follow specific guidelines to minimize risks associated with black bears, which number between 17,000 and 20,000 across Colorado. These include refraining from approaching or feeding bears, carrying bear spray when hiking, securing garbage in bear-resistant bins, and locking doors at night. Local authorities advise that in the rare event of a black bear attack, individuals should not play dead but instead respond aggressively, targeting the animal’s face and muzzle.
This year’s bear activities have intensified due to drought and wildfires diminishing the bears’ natural food sources, such as berries and acorns. The resulting increase in bear-human interactions has led to a sharp rise in euthanizations, with 294 bears put down in Colorado by August 31, compared to 83 in the same period the previous year. Officials euthanize bears that become overly habituated to humans as a public safety precaution.
The Silversteins’ neighbor, Joseph, serves as an informal chronicle of bear encounters in the region, sharing reports of local incidents involving the animals. These include a bear damaging chicken coops and preying on various small animals before being scared away, another tearing up the interior of a pickup truck and fleeing after law enforcement used nonlethal tactics, and a bear casually raiding a bakery stall at the Aspen farmers’ market before climbing a tree to retreat.
Such encounters illustrate the unpredictable interactions between humans and wildlife in Colorado’s mountainous areas, where residents acknowledge that they share the environment with animals that command significant respect and caution.
On a smaller scale, the Silversteins also take measures to protect their five-year-old tuxedo cat, Bernice, who occasionally ventures outdoors. They track her movements with a GPS device and limit her outdoor time to daylight hours to reduce exposure to predators, a practice reflecting the broader necessity of adapting to living alongside the region’s wildlife.
For the Silversteins, adapting to life in bear country means adjusting expectations and daily routines in ways they had not anticipated when moving from a major city like London. From fortifying trash containers to carrying bear spray and monitoring their pet via satellite, their experience reflects the challenges and realities of residing in Colorado’s wilderness interface.