Full Breakdown
Colorado Home Bears: A Summer Surge in Human-Bear Encounters
9/1/2026, 12:15:22 AM
Home Invasion on July 21
Security-camera footage captured a black bear slipping through an unlocked back door and entering the kitchen of a Colorado Springs home on July 21. The animal rummaged through trash, tried to open a milk bottle, and ate Flintstones vitamins before the family’s father opened the door and shooed it out.
Background & Context
A dry winter this year depleted the berries, nuts and grasses that supply roughly 90 % of Colorado’s bear diet, prompting more frequent forays into human-occupied areas. Wildlife officials note that the current year has produced an “unprecedented” number of bear sightings statewide.
Data & Statistics
- More than 6,000 bear sightings have been reported in Colorado so far this year.
- At least seven people have been attacked by bears in the same period.
Official Statements & Responses
The agency also recommends staying calm, making noise, and giving the animal a clear escape route if a bear enters a home, while warning against running or climbing trees.
When a bear cub briefly entered the grounds of BF Kitchen Elementary School in Loveland, Mike Hausmann, chief communications officer for the Thompson School District, said staff posted adults at entrances, locked exterior doors, and escorted students inside while the animal was on campus.
On-the-Ground Reports
The family’s mother, Nerissa England, described hearing a loud bang while preparing for the day and checking on her children, who were upstairs. Her 8-year-old daughter, Zara Lee, investigated and discovered the bear. England’s husband followed and, together with the children, helped scare the animal away by opening the kitchen door and making noise. The family plans to keep doors closed for a while but will continue to leave the kitchen trash can in place.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores a growing conflict between expanding human habitation and wildlife seeking food in suburban settings. As bears become accustomed to anthropogenic food sources, the likelihood of repeated encounters rises, increasing risks to both people and animals. Effective waste management and public education, as outlined by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, are essential to reducing attractants and preventing future home invasions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was getting ready in the morning and heard a bang. I asked my kids — 8, 6 and 3 years old — if they were all okay, and they were all upstairs playing,” — Nerissa England, Fox News
- “The moment she saw it, she said 'dad, there's a bear,' because he was right behind her, and he calmly shooed the bear out of the house,” — Nerissa England, KOAA
- “There was a little... we felt a little invaded. Like it was hot. It had been hot streaks... so we had all the windows and doors open and the idea that if we leave a door open, a bear could just come into our home felt a little violating,” — Nerissa England, KOAA
- “I think we learned that we need to be safe around bears,” — Nerissa England, KOAA
- “Adults were posted at all of the school entrances to help ensure safety for students and steps were taken by our district safety and security personnel to make sure that students were brought in as quickly as possible,” — Mike Hausmann, Thompson School District
