2 Surprising Bear Attacks in Colorado Are Under Investigation
A series of bear attacks in Southwest Colorado has both visitors and residents on edge. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has stated that bear activity is rising, highlighting two recent attacks that are making national news.
The statement was dated Sept. 14, 2026, and it described two attacks that took place over the weekend, one in South Fork and one in Durango. One of the victims required medical attention after the unusual attacks. According to CPW, these two latest incidents bring this year’s number of bear attacks up to 10.
Officials are blaming the increased activity on drought conditions, which CPW says are making it harder for bears to find food. This comes at a time when bears are entering their hyperphagia phase and looking to consume around 20,000 calories a day before taking shelter for the winter.
This has prompted them to venture into neighborhoods where they usually wouldn’t be found, which is where one attack occurred. Now CPW officials are asking residents to take extra precautions to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their pets safe.
A 17-Year-Old Teen Was Attacked in Her Durango Home
The most shocking of the two recent attacks happened when a bear entered through the window of a 17-year-old teen’s room while she was sleeping. The attack happened around 2 a.m. on Sept. 13, according to CPW, which says the bear gained access to the condo through a window left partially open.
According to the teen, the bear ripped off the screen and then opened the window to gain access to the room. It tore the curtains from the wall, which then woke her up. She told officers that she hid under the blankets. But once the bear came close and began sniffing at her head, she made a noise. The bear started “huffing” and then took a swipe at her.
Fortunately, she was under the covers, which prevented the bear from doing as much damage as it could’ve. “Based on what we know happened in this encounter, the woman is very lucky she had multiple blankets covering her when the bear swiped her,” District Wildlife Manager Luke Clancy said in the CPW release.
CPW later set a trap for the bear after it entered another nearby home the following morning.
A Woman Was Bitten While Sleeping
The other weekend attack took place at Park Creek Campground. A woman called the South Fork Police Department during the early morning hours, saying a bear bit her arm through the fabric of the tent. While she never saw the animal, the description included clues indicating it was a black bear, such as its size and growl.
This prompted the campground to close for the remainder of the weekend. Unfortunately, that spells the end of the season for the park, since it closes down for the season on Sept. 14. “The bite in this incident was more likely an act of surprise than aggression,” Area Wildlife Manager Rick Basagoitia of the Monte Vista office said in the CPW statement. “There is no history of conflict or damage. This location is isolated and now closed. The potential for threat is never zero, but it is significantly reduced in this situation.”
This Has Been a Record Year for Bear Attacks
A CPW representative spoke with the Coloradoan back on Sept. 2, 2026, telling the outlet how the state has seen an increase in attacks since the start of the year. “Everyone, everywhere is having a lot of bear problems,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said at the time. “Worst bear year we’ve ever had.”
There were just seven bear attacks at the time of that interview, which was already double the state’s average. According to Van Hoose, over the past 10 years the state has averaged three attacks per year, with some years having zero attacks.
To combat the rise in attacks, many towns are asking residents to take extra steps to stay safe, like the Town of Kremmling, which is now asking people to keep their trash indoors so that bears aren’t drawn to the area. Hopefully, residents and visitors heed all these warnings. While these most recent bear attack victims got lucky, not everyone will be so fortunate.
