Colorado Parks and Wildlife Euthanizes Record Number of Bears Amid Increased Human Encounters
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has euthanized 294 black bears this year by August 31, a significant increase compared to 83 during the same period last year. This surge in euthanizations is a direct response to a record number of human-bear encounters, primarily driven by widespread wildfire and drought conditions. These environmental factors have severely limited bears' natural food sources, such as berries and acorns, forcing them to forage in more populated areas. Bears require approximately 20,000 calories daily to prepare for hibernation, and the scarcity of food has led to a "drastic increase" in conflicts, with 8,672 reported sightings and incidents this year, up from 3,680 last year. Incidents involving property damage and bears accessing human food sources have also risen by 56% in Pitkin County. CPW employs an escalating scale of response, with euthanasia reserved for bears involved in attacks, repeated home invasions, or severe injuries, such as those sustained from vehicle collisions. 
