A Colorado Springs homeowner got an up-close reminder of bear season last Sunday when a black bear wandered into an open garage and casually hauled off a bag of trash. The resident was inside at the time and chose not to confront the animal. The quick grab, the latest in a string of human-bear encounters across the Front Range this spring, shows how little it can take for unsecured food or garbage to pull wildlife into residential streets. Neighbors and wildlife managers say small oversights, like a garage door left open or a trash bag set down “just for a minute,” are often all it takes to invite a hungry bear.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife relayed the report and said the Front Range accounts for 283 of about 1,200 bear reports so far this year, noting that a warm, dry winter reduced natural forage and pushed animals closer to homes. The agency reminded residents that most conflicts begin when bears access garbage, pet food, or bird feeders and urged people to secure attractants, as reported by the Denver Gazette.
What's behind the spike in sightings
Local data and reporting show a significant uptick in encounters: the Pikes Peak region recorded 567 bear sightings last year, a 102% jump from 2024, and state figures indicate trash and other human food are the leading attractants in more than half of encounters. Outreach and improved bear-proofing have helped reduce euthanasia even as sightings rise, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported. Wildlife managers say consistent reporting to CPW helps them spot repeat problem areas and tailor neighborhood outreach, instead of waiting until a bear becomes a chronic problem.
How to keep bears out of your garage
Wildlife officials recommend straightforward steps: keep garage doors closed when not in use, store garbage and recycling indoors until the morning of pickup, bring pet food inside, take down bird feeders while bears are active, clean grills, and consider bear-resistant containers. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a neighborhood checklist and tips for securing attractants; if you encounter an aggressive or food-conditioned bear, report it to CPW or local law enforcement.
State policy is tightening around negligent attractant storage: Governor Jared Polis signed a law in late May that lowers the legal threshold for violations tied to luring bears and allows officers to issue tickets instead of warnings, with escalating fines for repeat offenders. The change is intended to curb repeat problems by giving wildlife officers more enforcement options, as reported by KKTV.
For people who live near the mountains, officials say the safest approach is neighborhood-level: talk to your neighbors, secure common attractants, and report sightings promptly. Those small actions go a long way toward keeping both people and bears safe.
