Science · Bear encountersClear Creek bear attack: Man injured in Colorado’s 12th reported attack of 2026Aired October 24, 2026 at 9:53 PM UTCWritten October 24, 2026 at 9:55 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07A man fought off a bear after it charged him twice outside his home.0:11He needed medical treatment after the encounter near his trash cans.0:14Wildlife officers are urging residents to secure food around their homes as bears0:18feed heavily before winter.0:20The immediate question is whether a danger remains in the neighborhood.0:23The man heard noises outside his home on Castlewood Drive in Clear Creek County.0:28Colorado Parks and Wildlife says he went outside around one in the morning and found0:32a bear near the trash cans.0:34He told wildlife officers he yelled to scare the animal away, but it charged him.0:38He pushed it away and it briefly backed off.0:40Then it charged again.0:42He said he kicked the bear to defend himself and it finally ran away.0:45The encounter happened early Thursday, October 22.0:48Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced its investigation Friday, October 23rd.0:53Those dates separate the attack itself from the agency's announcement the following0:57day.0:57The man sought treatment after fighting off the bear.1:00His specific injuries and current condition haven't been disclosed.1:04Wildlife officers are investigating his description of the encounter.1:07Colorado Parks and Wildlife calls this the state's 12th reported bear attack of1:122026.1:13That figure counts reported attacks.1:16Bear sightings and complaints about animals visiting homes belong to separate1:20categories.1:21The total doesn't give us a like-for-like comparison with last year's attacks, so it1:25can't tell us whether this year has set a record.1:27The practical concern for residents is keeping bears from finding food around homes.1:31Bears can eat more than 20,000 calories a day during their intense feeding period1:35before winter.1:36It's called hyperphagia.1:38Human food and garbage can draw them into residential spaces while they're searching1:42for something to eat.1:43Drought can make natural food harder to find.1:46Low mountain snowpack and wildfire effects can also put pressure on food supplies.1:50But wildlife officers haven't said why this particular bear charged.1:53Its presence beside trash cans doesn't tell us whether it ate garbage.1:57When bears repeatedly get access to human food, they can become accustomed to2:00finding it around people.2:02That creates risks for residents and animals alike.2:04The homeowner's actions describe his encounter.2:07The agency's prevention advice focuses on removing food attractants.2:10Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges residents to secure garbage and recycling along2:15with bird feeders and pet food.2:16Clean and properly store grills and smokers too.2:19Tell neighbors when you see bears or signs of bear activity nearby.2:22The bear ran away after the encounter.2:24The man told wildlife officers, the agency hasn't publicly said what happened to the2:29animal afterward, leaving residents without a clear answer about whether it still2:33poses a danger nearby.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
