Mesa County investigators are working on a grim discovery on the Grand Mesa after human remains were found near the Wild Rose Picnic Area, scattered across the site, and believed to have been eaten by a bear and other wildlife. The Mesa County Coroner's Office is now tasked with identifying the person and determining an official cause of death.
Investigation Underway
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office says the remains were located Sunday near the Wild Rose Picnic Area off Lands End Road on the Grand Mesa, and investigators believe the person was consumed by a bear and other wildlife, according to CBS Colorado. The sheriff's office also reports that Colorado Parks and Wildlife does not consider this incident a threat to the wider community at this time. Investigators are asking anyone who was in the Wild Rose area between June 22 and July 5, 2026, and noticed anything suspicious to contact Investigator Jenna Reed at (970) 244-3274.
Safety Advice From Wildlife Officials
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is using the incident as a reminder about how to cut down on human-bear conflict: secure food and trash, double-bag and pack out food, keep dogs leashed, store food in bear-resistant containers or hang it well off the ground and away from tree trunks, and carry and know how to use bear spray, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. CPW materials note that bears are opportunistic, and once they learn to associate people with food, they can become habituated and dangerous. Visitors are urged to treat camps and picnic areas like backcountry sites, keep camps clean, travel in groups when possible, and promptly report concerning animal behavior.
Where This Happened
The Wild Rose picnic site is located along Lands End Road on the western flank of the Grand Mesa and serves as a trailhead for nearby routes, according to the Bureau of Land Management's maps and notices. The mesas' forests are home to black bears, and land managers warn that remote picnic areas can quickly draw in wildlife if food or trash is left behind. Both local and federal agencies continue to urge visitors to follow food-storage rules to avoid conflicts.
What Comes Next
The Mesa County Coroner's Office will work to identify the person and determine the cause of death while investigators continue to process the scene. Anyone with information about activity in the Wild Rose area between June 22 and July 5 is asked to contact the Mesa County Sheriff's Office or call Investigator Jenna Reed at (970) 244-3274.
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