Colorado Bear in Denver’s Platt Park Tree Surprises Neighbors as Wildlife Officers Say Sightings Have Topped 6,000 Statewide This Year

DENVER, CO — A black bear gave Platt Park neighbors an unexpected Sunday morning scene after it was spotted high in a tree near Louisiana Avenue and Pennsylvania Street. Colorado Parks and Wildlife later brought the young bear down and returned it to a safer habitat.

The animal was a 1.5-year-old, 100-pound male, and officials said it was probably searching for food. The sighting came during a year when bear reports have climbed sharply across Colorado, making even city neighborhoods feel a little more like wild territory.

Why Bears Are Pushing Into Town

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says more than 6,000 bear reports have been filed statewide this year, which is about twice the total at the same point last year. Wildlife officials have tied the increase in part to limited snowpack last winter, which can leave bears with fewer natural food sources in the wild.

That shortage appears to be pushing more bears into suburban and urban areas as they continue looking for easy meals. CPW Northeast Region spokeswoman Kara Van Hoose said people across Colorado are basically living in bear country now, whether they expected to or not.

The agency has been urging residents to follow the same habits used in mountain communities: take down bird feeders, keep windows locked, and make sure trash is secured. Those simple steps are meant to keep bears from learning that neighborhoods are a place to find snacks.

What Platt Park Neighbors Noticed

The sighting landed just as Denver-area residents were already hearing about other bear encounters, including a fisherman attacked in Jefferson County and a bear damaging a car in Garfield County while looking for food. For people in Platt Park, the animal in the tree was a reminder that wildlife can show up in places where it is least expected.

Jesse Byrd, general manager of Duffeyrolls, said his business already keeps garbage lids closed and uses locked cans whenever possible. Even so, the nearby bear prompted him to think about doing more and to learn how to scare bears away if one appears nearby.

His reaction matched the broader mood from wildlife officials: stay calm, stay aware, and treat city bear safety seriously. Loud noises, yelling, or even a car alarm can help drive a bear off without anyone getting too close.

A Bigger Reminder For Colorado Residents

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the surge in sightings is not just a mountain issue anymore. Bears are turning up in places that once seemed far removed from the woods, including streets lined with homes, shops, and parked cars.

That makes prevention especially important, because the same food that attracts a bear in a campground can also attract one in a neighborhood. CPW is asking residents to think ahead before a bear does the sniffing for them.

For Denver residents, the Platt Park incident was unusual, but not isolated. It fits a bigger statewide pattern that has wildlife experts urging everyone to keep trash contained, remove feeders, and give bears no reason to linger.

The weirdest true stories from across America, every day.