Colorado Parks and Wildlife traps, relocates bear thought to be causing property damage in Breckenridge

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is working to relocate an adult bear after trapping the animal in a Breckenridge neighborhood.

The bear is believed to have been involved in several reports of property damage and has shown signs of habitation, including increased comfort around people, Colorado Parks and Wildlife public information officer Rachael Gonzales said in an email.

The most recent report of property damage thought to be connected to the bear was on Saturday, May 10, Gonzales said. The bear is being relocated to an area where there is natural food source and reduced risk for human-bear conflicts, she said.

While Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes this bear is responsible for recent property damage, Gonzales noted that “it’s important to remember Breckenridge is bear country.”

Bears are awake and residents and visitors should take secure food, garbage and recycling — including by waiting until the morning of trash and recycling pickup to put bins out and using bear-resistant trash cans.

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People in Summit County should also keep windows and doors in homes and cars closed and locked if they are easily accessible to bears. Earlier this month, a bear opened a door to an unlocked vehicle in Breckenridge.

Pet food should not be left outdoors, and grills and smokers should be cleaned, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. People should also never feed or approach bears.

In 2024, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received more than 5,000 reports of conflict and sightings of bears.

The Breckenridge Police Department could not provide additional information related to recent property damage caused by bears. But Breckenridge Police Department administrative supervisor Colleen Goettelman said in an email, “We have reports of bears every year, especially this time of year. Most are in regard to trash being left out and we then educate trash can owners.