MONUMENT, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is ramping up community outreach efforts amid record bear activity.
On Friday, a bear attack in Jefferson County injured an angler, marking the fourth bear attack in the state this week and the sixth so far this year.
Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio reports on the record number of bear encounters this year in the video below:
The agency says this year is on track to break the state record for bear reports.
CPW data shows there have been more than 6,000 bear sightings so far this year — nearly double last year's numbers.
District Wildlife Manager Demetria Wright said this year's drought and wildfires have decimated the animals' food supply.
"There's just no natural food availability right now," Wright said. "So that's increasing the sightings and conflicts we're having with bears, pushing bears down to lower elevations to search for food."
In response, CPW workers and volunteers are attending neighborhood events to connect directly with communities in areas where sightings have been frequent.
In the Forest Lakes neighborhood in Monument on Saturday, wildlife experts showed up to an outdoor concert to spread bear safety information.
Shauna Naous, who lives in Forest Lakes, said a male bear has become a frequent visitor to her neighborhood.
Naous captured the bear on her home Ring camera. She said the reaction from neighbors has become routine.
"I hear that quite a bit. 'Ah, we've seen the bear again!'" Naous said.
Another neighbor just a few miles away also captured a black bear in his yard.
CPW says simple steps can keep bears away, including removing bird feeders, securing trash, and cleaning grills.
Naous said she has also changed how she moves through her own neighborhood, making herself known to any bears in the area on every walk.
"I will call out a lot of 'Hey, bear! Hey, bear!' to let that bear know that I'm in the area," Naous said.
She also carries bear spray and a soda can filled with rocks to make noise.
"It's critical, especially this year," Naous said.
Sightings are expected to peak in the coming weeks.
Naous said she hopes the outreach effort spreads beyond her neighborhood.
"We're getting out here to educate a community, and our hope is that this will get the word out to other communities," Naous said.
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