Colorado
More food, fewer conflicts: Colorado bear encounters dropped in 2023 due to better forage
The number of conflicts between people and bears reported in Colorado dropped by 15% in 2023 thanks to sufficient natural food sources, state wildlife officials said Monday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,526 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears in 2023, down from 4,147 reports in 2022, the agency said in a news release.
Wildlife officers relocated 33 bears and euthanized 63 bears last year, the lowest number of euthanasias in at least eight years, according to previous reporting.
Colorado is home to an estimated 17,000 — 20,000 bears, and the biggest cause of conflict with humans is still bears trying to access human food and trash.
Approximately 51% of bear encounters reported in Colorado last year resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle or fence, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Of those reports, 92% were linked to some kind of “attractant” like trash, livestock, chickens, beehives, bird seed, pet food, grills, coolers or refrigerators, agency officials said.
“These conflicts could all easily be reduced if the public takes some simple steps around their homes and properties to prevent bears from accessing them,” state officials said in a news release Monday.
Nature also plays a role in the amount of bear activity Coloradans see every year, with drought and late freezes impacting natural food sources and driving them to seek food in more urban areas.
While a late freeze and drought impacted food sources in some areas of the state in 2022, most of the state saw warm enough temperatures and enough precipitation this year to produce enough natural forage for bears.
The northwest region saw the largest decline in bear conflicts, but wildlife officials noted “an unreasonable number” of bears were still reported entering homes, according to the agency.
Reporting bear activity helps wildlife officers intervene early to haze bears and educate the community, which can prevent bears from needing to be euthanized, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said in a news release.
Colorado counties with the biggest share of bear encounters include Pitkin County with 429 reports, El Paso County with 272 reports, Boulder County with 270 reports and Jefferson County with 200 reports.
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Damage assessments are still ongoing for homes and businesses affected by the Aspen Acres Fire in southern Colorado, but over 200 homes have been confirmed destroyed so far. The United Way of Southern Colorado is working to raise relief funds for those affected and says it’s making progress towards its fundraising goal.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said they’ve assessed approximately 67% of the properties affected in the county. Authorities have confirmed the loss of 192 homes and four commercial structures so far and are working to contact property owners as quickly as possible.
Lucero urged everyone affected by the fire to use the survivor portal for more information on assistance.
Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith says they’ve lost approximately 83 homes so far, almost 2% of the county’s homes. The worst hit area is along the Highway 165 corridor, Smith added. He said that authorities don’t expect any new evacuation areas, but are not yet ready to release the existing evacuation orders.
Smith said a hotline is available during business hours for affected Custer County Residents to ask questions. He urged residents to contact them at (719) 467-0271 and advised they may need to leave a voicemail if the line is busy due to the high number of calls.
A flash flood watch is in effect for areas near the burn scar, which could affect nearby homes.
The President of the United Way of Southern Colorado, Shanna Farmer, said the organization is working to raise wildfire relief funds for those affected. Over the last few days, they have reached just over $417,000 of their $10 million goal.
“It has been incredible, the number of individuals and companies who have come out to support, to provide matches, and to provide innovative ways to raise those funds,” said Farmer. “And so, I encourage anyone who is willing to work with us on a corporate, business, or individual level to please reach out because it is going to take all of us to help rebuild.”
Farmer said that the community not only needs help with their immediate needs but also long-term support. She urged anyone interested in donating to visit their website.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says anyone who has evacuated needs to contact the Disaster Assistance Center located at 29 Lehigh Ave. in Pueblo. The center is open between 9 a.m and 6 p.m. and provides multiple resources for those forced to evacuate.
Residents must also visit the center to obtain a re-entry pass, which will allow them to return home once evacuation orders have been lifted. A photo ID and proof of residency are required. Visitors can sign up online to reserve a place in line for faster service.
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Colorado
Julian Lewis Says Deion Sanders’ Colorado ‘Wasn’t Really Looking at Defenses Much’ Last Season
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis made a stunning admission that could explain the team’s 3-9 finish to the 2025 season.
While speaking to ESPNU at Big 12 media days, Lewis was asked what the biggest difference was between last year and this year, and he revealed that the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes typically didn’t watch film during his first season with the team.
“My play, I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we wasn’t really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now, so it should be fun.”
Before taking a redshirt year, Lewis played in four games as a true freshman with two starts and threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 55.3 percent of his passes. He should fare even better this season with the benefit of film study.
Lewis will enter the 2026 campaign as Colorado’s starting quarterback, so he will have the opportunity to show his improvements when the Buffaloes open the year against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
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