CHICAGO, Illinois, August 31, 2026 — A record number of black bears are invading homes and businesses in the American West this year. The driest winter on record killed plants, berries and nuts that account for 90 percent of their diet. It’s that lack of food that’s driving hungry bears right into communities in search of meals.
Severe Drought Drives Bears into Mountain Towns
They have roamed around a school in Santa Fe, N.M., climbed trees close to a Denver farmers market. In Granby in Colorado, a bear entered a home for the first time residents can recall. “I certainly never heard of bears born inside people’s houses, you know, cubs within someone’s house,” resident Errico stated.
This same small mountain town has seen black bears inside a vape shop. The Granby location is a bear-heavy mountain area about 57 miles northwest of Denver. Because they have an incredible sense of smell, wildlife officials say the animals are attracted to people and food.
Record Euthanasia Rates and Fatal Encounters
The increase in encounters has resulted in all-time bear deaths in multiple states this year. Hundreds of bears have been euthanized, struck by vehicles, shot or electrocuted because of human interactions. In 2026 alone, Utah authorities report that they have euthanized 39 bears, more than any year on record.
New Mexico has had its first fatal bear attack in 25 years after a man was mauled to death last week. Although bear encounters are becoming more common across the West, fatal attacks remain rare. Most bear conflicts begin when bears rummage through unsecured garbage, wildlife officials say.
Black bear populations overall remain healthy among the world’s eight bear species. State officials estimate there are some 17,000 to 20,000 black bears in Colorado alone. Bear numbers have also recovered in places like Nevada, where they were almost extirpated 100 years ago.
Preventative Measures and Community Preparedness
They’re testing the bears like they’ve never been tested before—and humans for that matter, said Jon Beckmann, a black bear expert. Housing development has intruded into areas once used by bears for foraging. Longer-term, however, experts warn that the continued aridification of many parts of the Western U.S. could make these encounters more common.
Bear resistant garbage bins are suggested and residents should be cautious about placing their trash out for too long. Live animal traps can also be used to monitor where in the environment bears are congregating, Snyder said. Residents must secure pet food and bird seed out of a bear’s reach, too, she stressed. As Wright, a Nevada bear manager posted for duty within the Bellyache Fire Zone said, “We can’t even fathom what September and October are going to be like.”
Reich’s current product line offers electric doormats to keep bears out of homes. Most wildlife agencies will tell you that prevention is still much more effective than reactive removal after the fact. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers state-specific information about bear safety.
Wildlife officers are bracing for wildlife encounters to keep going up after natural food sources already dry out. Certain municipalities have started offering residents bear-resistant waste containers for a subsidized fee. Conservation organisations say while safety measures are necessary in the immediate term, a long-term solution must also tackle habitat loss.
State wildlife agencies are preparing public education campaigns in advance of the fall foraging season. This year, some communities have been putting bear-proof dumpsters at public parks and trailheads. Meanwhile, officials say cooperation between wildlife managers and residents is critical to minimizing conflicts.
