2 injured as bear attacks reach record high in Colorado amid drought, tell me about this news in (https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/15/bear-attacks-colorado-drought-wildlife/)

Across Colorado, bear encounters and attacks reached record levels due to severe drought conditions that depleted the natural food supply in the high country.During late summer, bears enter hyperphagiaa biological state where they must consume up to 20,000 calories a day to prepare for winter hibernation. Because prolonged drought dried up essential wild forage like berries, acorns, and natural vegetation, hungry bears increasingly pushed into towns, residential neighborhoods, and campsites searching for food, raiding trash cans and approaching human dwellings.The surge in aggressive encounters led to multiple injuries, including two high-profile attacks:

• Steamboat Springs: A black bear forced open and dislodged a wooden sliding glass door to enter an occupied home. A woman inside was attacked and suffered facial lacerations. She was able to drive herself to a local hospital for emergency treatment, while wildlife officers collected DNA evidence and set traps in the area.
• Aspen: In Rio Grande Park, a man sleeping outdoors in a sleeping bag was approached and bitten on the head and face. He managed to break free and get help, receiving medical treatment for his injuries. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers tracked down the female bear involved and euthanized it in accordance with state wildlife safety protocol.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported that sightings, property intrusions, and conflict reports reached thousands of logged incidents across the state, far outpacing the numbers recorded during typical years. Officials continue to urge residents and visitors across mountain communities to secure garbage in bear-resistant containers, remove outdoor bird feeders, and lock ground-floor doors and windows.