Colorado’s Bear Hotspots: 15 Counties Reporting the Most Activity

Of the 48 continuous states in North America, Colorado is ranked 10th in 2024 by the World Population Review for the number of black bears living within our borders. Each year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife releases a report that lists bear activity and sightings by county.

Read More: Big Foot Mary: The Last of the Western Colorado Grizzly Bears

Keep reading to take a look at a timelapse map of bear reports and sightings from 2023, and a recap of the top 15 counties that saw the most bear activity last year including Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties.

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What Kind of Bears Live in Colorado?

Black bears are the only type of bears that live in the Centennial State. While Brown/Grizzly bears may have lived here decades ago, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says they no longer do. Colorado is home to a black bear population which is estimated to be between 12,000 to 18,500 bears. This means the majority of bears in our state go unseen/unnoticed by people every year.

Read More: Colorado Black Bears Aren't Always Black and Other Bear Facts

Colorado's Bear Sightings in 2023

The video above provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows bear reports from around the state as they were called in during each month in 2023. It's amazing to watch the map fill in by mid-December. In total Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,526 reports and 2,242 confirmed bear sightings last year.

Report a Bear Sighting in Western Colorado

To report a bear causing trouble in the Grand Junction area of Mesa County, you can contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Northwest Office in Grand Junction at (970) 255-6100. You can also stop by the office at 711 Independent Avenue in Grand Junction.

To report a bear causing trouble in the Montrose, Colorado area you can contact the Southwest Region at 970-252-6000, or stop by the Montrose office at 2300 South Townsend Avenue.

Keep scrolling to see the 15 Colorado counties that filed the most reports last year along with a look at Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties.