Neighbors in Colorado Springs' North Gate neighborhood got an up-close look at wildlife management on Saturday when officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife tranquilized a mother black bear and her two cubs that had been camping out under a family's back deck.
The roughly 150-pound adult and her nearly 100-pound cubs were found tucked beneath the home before officers immobilized them, loaded the trio into wildlife trailers and transported them several hours away to what officials described as "better bear habitat," according to the Denver Gazette. Wildlife crews later administered a "wake-up" drug so the bears could walk off on their own after release. Neighbors filmed the removal, and state crews also shared video of the release.
Local station KKTV reported that Colorado Parks and Wildlife later posted video of the relocation. The Colorado Springs Gazette has noted several similar bear relocations around El Paso County in recent weeks and quoted wildlife staff who say drought and reduced natural food sources are pushing hungry bears into neighborhoods in search of calories.
Why Bears Are Turning Up in Neighborhoods
Wildlife managers say most run-ins with bears can be traced to human-provided attractants like unsecured trash, bird feeders, and pet food. Once bears learn that yards and alleys offer easy calories, they can lose their natural fear of people, upping the odds of conflict. Colorado Parks and Wildlife's guidance on living with bears, outlined by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, warns that habituated or food-conditioned bears often end up being euthanized when problems escalate.
How Residents Can Reduce Conflicts
Statewide numbers show bear reports are climbing, with more than 5,200 sightings and conflicts logged last year. That increase has fueled proposals to tighten enforcement on unsecured attractants, according to Axios. Wildlife officers say people living in bear country should roll trash to the curb only on pickup day, pull down bird feeders during bear season, and never leave pet food outside.
Officials advise residents to contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife or local law enforcement if a bear threatens people or property. Regional contacts and safety tips are listed on the agency's home protection page from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They stress that simple steps like securing garbage, removing feeders, and bringing pet food indoors are the most reliable ways to keep bears wild and neighborhoods safe.
