Colorado
Bears, mountain lions and moose showing up in Northern Colorado cities
Encountering wildlife: Do you know what to do?
From bears to mountain lions, find out what you can do to keep everyone safe.
Holly Engelman/The Coloradoan, Wochit
Black bears, mountain lions, moose and elk have all been seen in Fort Collins, Windsor, Wellington, Loveland and Greeley in late summer and early fall, prompting some on social media to wonder why they are seeing wildlife in urban settings.
Despite the frequent social media posts about wildlife sightings in the area, Brandon Muller, Colorado Parks and Wildlife assistant area wildlife manager for Fort Collins, said it’s been business as usual.
“From our perspective, nothing has been out of normal,” he said.
He said the agency doesn’t believe wildfires west and northwest of Fort Collins are why residents are seeing wildlife in urban areas.
Muller said bears typically come into cities and towns this time of year to feast on apples and other food up to 20 hours a day, putting on weight, called hyperphagia, as they fatten up for winter.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release that more than half of bear incident reports in 2023 occurred in August, September and October.
Moose have been seen on the east and west side of Fort Collins in recent weeks. Muller said moose are known to do “walkabouts” — wandering about until eventually heading back to the mountains, which he said the agency believes the moose seen in the area are doing now.
In July, the state wildlife agency captured a moose near Wellington and returned it to the mountains west of Fort Collins. It was one of three in the area at the time.
He said mountain lions have been seen in the north Fort Collins area and Wellington. One also was seen in northwest Loveland. He said wildlife uses the Poudre River and irrigation canals to travel.
“Mountain lions like deer and there are a lot of deer in the area, so that’s why sometimes people see them in or close to town,” he said.
Elk have been seen on the west side of Loveland, and a recent social media post showed some near Thompson Valley High School on the city’s southwest side. Muller said there is a resident elk population in that area.
He said if people see bears, mountain lions and moose, the agency recommends they report the sightings so the agency can keep track of them.
The wildlife agency’s Fort Collins office number is 970-472-4300.
He said reporting sightings doesn’t necessarily mean the wildlife is a threat, resulting in the agency trapping and removing it.
“We will not touch every animal that comes into town but will usually check out the reports to determine the situation,” he said. “If a bear is aggressive, we don’t want any person to be injured by a bear or if wildlife is around a busy intersection, we don’t want to work an animal that could cause harm to it or anybody.”
His best advice is to report the sighting and enjoy the wildlife from afar so as not to stress the animal.
“They are still wild animals and you never can predict their behavior,” he said.
How homeowners can prevent bears from becoming a nuisance
Here are tips from Colorado Parks and Wildlife:
- If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
- Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
- Use ammonia to clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors.
- Keep garage doors closed and car doors locked.
- Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.
- Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
- Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. It is recommended not to hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
- If you see a bear, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
- Clean your grill after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.
An investigation is underway after authorities found a body near a picnic area in western Colorado last weekend that appears to have been eaten by a bear.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office says the human remains were located on Sunday near the Wild Rose Picnic Area off Lands End Road on the Grand Mesa. Investigators say the remains were scavenged and scattered, and they believe the person was consumed by a bear and other wildlife.
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the person and officially determine their cause of death.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who was in the area of the Wild Rose Campground between June 22 and July 5, 2026, and noticed anything suspicious to contact Investigator Jenna Reed at (970) 244-3274.
They added that Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes there is no threat to the community at this time.
The area is home to black bears, and the MCSO shared several guidelines for the community to prevent human-bear conflicts:
- Stay alert and together: Go with others when possible, keep children in sight and close by, and avoid using headphones so you can hear your surroundings.
- Food safety: Double-bag food, pack out all food and trash, and don’t burn scraps and trash in fire rings/grills or leave them behind.
- Pet safety: Keep dogs on a leash at all times or leave them at home; don’t force a bear to defend itself.
- Camping safety: Set up camps away from dense cover or natural food sources and do not cook or store food near/in a tent. Secure food in bear-resistant containers or suspend at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from any part of the tree.
- Know how to respond: Don’t approach bears; quietly move away. Never run, as it may trigger a chase response. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, wave your arms, and yell until it leaves. Stay with your group, use bear spray, and fight back aggressively if necessary.
- Bear spray: Carry bear spray and know how to use it correctly. It’s not repellent; don’t spray your tent, campsite, or belongings.
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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