Record Colorado Bear Attacks: Teen Scratched in Bedroom, Camper Bitten in Tent

Key points

• A black bear bit a woman at the Park Creek Campground in Rio Grande National Forest on Friday, leaving a puncture wound on her arm; officials described the bite as a surprise reaction rather than aggression.
• On Sunday, a bear entered a Durango condo through a cracked window, swiping a 17-year-old girl in her bedroom; she suffered three scratches and bruising but was protected by multiple blankets.
• The bear that attacked the teenager subsequently entered another home on Monday, prompting Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to set traps and search for the animal, which is deemed a health and safety risk.
• Colorado has recorded 10 confirmed bear attacks on humans in 2026, a number officials describe as unprecedented, driven by a second year of drought that has reduced natural food supplies.
• Bears are entering 'hyperphagia' to bulk up for hibernation, requiring up to 20,000 calories per day, which has led them to forage in urban areas and human residences.
• CPW has urged the public to secure trash, lock windows, doors, and garages, and remove attractants like bird feeders to mitigate the rising conflict rate.

Background

This surge in bear activity follows a pattern of increasing human-wildlife conflicts in Colorado throughout 2026. Earlier incidents included a bear breaching an Estes Park home and injuring an elderly resident, and a fatal attack in New Mexico. CPW reported 6,129 bear-related reports through August 2026, nearly double the previous year's total. The current situation is part of a broader regional trend where drought conditions are pushing bears into urban and suburban areas in search of food, leading to legislative efforts to enforce bear-safe trash laws.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and CBS News both emphasize the defensive nature of the attacks, with wildlife managers describing the camper's bite as a 'surprise' rather than aggression. The Durango Herald provides additional local context, noting that a man in Durango shot a bear in August after it attempted to break into his home, and that a bear was euthanized earlier this month after being found with plastic garbage bags and cleaning wipes in its stomach. While all sources agree on the record number of attacks and the drought's role, the Durango Herald highlights the specific incident of the bear being shot and the subsequent legislative response, whereas the Guardian and CBS News focus more on the immediate safety advice and the specific details of the two latest injuries. CBS News notes that the campground closed early due to the attack, a detail not mentioned in the other sources.

Why it matters

The record-breaking number of bear attacks in Colorado highlights the escalating risks of human-wildlife conflict as climate conditions like drought alter animal behavior. As bears seek food in human-populated areas, the likelihood of dangerous encounters increases, necessitating stricter enforcement of wildlife safety measures and public awareness campaigns. The recent incidents underscore the need for residents to take proactive steps to secure their homes and property to prevent further injuries or fatalities.

What to watch

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is actively searching for the bear that attacked the teenager, with plans to capture and remove it due to the health and safety risk it poses. The agency continues to urge residents to secure trash, lock windows and doors, and remove attractants to reduce the likelihood of further conflicts. Legislative efforts to enforce bear-safe trash laws are also expected to gain momentum as the state grapples with the unprecedented number of bear-human interactions.