Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating another bear attack in Colorado after a man was injured Friday evening near the confluence of the Platte rivers in Jefferson County.
According to CPW, the man, who is in his 60s, had been fishing in the area and was walking toward the North Fork trail parking lot around 8pm. He was not carrying any fish when the attack occurred.
Multiple witnesses reported that a subadult female bear knocked the man to the ground and bit his legs. The attack continued for several minutes before the man’s friends were able to scare the bear away. Other bystanders then stopped to provide assistance. The man was transported to a local hospital with leg injuries.
Bear Located And Euthanized
CPW officers responded to the area following the attack and attempted to locate the bear. A U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service dog team also assisted in tracking the animal by scent.
The bear was located early Saturday morning and euthanized in accordance with CPW policy. The 50 to 60 pound subadult female did not show signs of nursing, and no cubs were found in the area. CPW wildlife veterinarians are expected to perform a necropsy on the bear.
The incident marks the sixth reported bear attack in Colorado in 2026.
Colorado Bear Activity Increasing
The attack comes as Colorado enters a period when bear activity typically increases. Bears are beginning hyperphagia, a period when they dramatically increase their food intake in preparation for winter. During this period, bears can consume as much as 20,000 calories per day.
Additionally historic drought conditions have reduced natural food sources across Colorado, pushing bears to search more aggressively for food near people. The state has already experienced a record number of bear reports this year. Residents and visitors are urged to secure trash, remove food scraps, and avoid creating situations where bears associate people with food.
CPW Urges Bear Safety
CPW recommends that people stay alert and travel in groups while hiking, fishing or otherwise recreating outdoors. Dogs should remain leashed, while food and trash should always be packed out and properly secured.
Anyone who encounters a black bear should never run. If the bear approaches, people should stand their ground, make themselves appear large and yell until the bear leaves. CPW also recommends carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.
If a black bear makes physical contact, officials say people should fight back aggressively rather than play dead.