A dry summer in the Rocky Mountains has led to a sharp increase in conflicts between black bears and people. In Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, animals are increasingly entering towns in search of food.
The cause is a shortage of natural food sources. Drought, a low-snow winter, and wildfires have destroyed the berries, acorns, and grasses that bears usually eat. In Colorado, by mid-August 2026, more than 6129 reports about bears had been received—almost twice as many as during the same period in 2025.
Bears are entering residential areas of Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Aspen. They are raiding trash cans and breaking into cars and homes. One bear got stuck in a car in Colorado Springs and died from the heat.
State authorities are responding harshly. In Utah, more than three dozen bears have already been killed—more than in the previous three years combined. In New Mexico, the number of shootings reached 187, the highest since 2011. In Colorado, dozens of animals have been relocated due to conflicts with people, and about a hundred have been killed.
Bears are especially active during hyperphagia—late summer and autumn—when they need to put on fat before hibernation. But this year there is almost no natural food, and the animals are losing their fear of people.
What happens when habitual food sources disappear? Bears change their behavior and increasingly end up in human settlements.
Experts note that the problem affects the entire Rocky Mountain region. Residents are advised to remove bird feeders, secure trash, and not leave food outdoors. Without such measures, the number of encounters could grow even further.
