STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — A bear wandered onto a backyard patio near Steamboat Springs this week and settled into a small plastic pool intended for a dog, a video shared with local media shows — a vivid example of a trend state wildlife officials are linking to a dry summer.
How a backyard pool became a cool-down spot
The video, sent to KDVR by Katie Cole and shared with News Block, captures a solitary bear approaching a home outside Steamboat Springs before climbing into a kiddie pool and appearing to soak. The area’s daytime temperature was about 89 degrees that day, according to the report.
“I was glad the bear had a chance to go for a ‘swim,’” Cole told KDVR. She added she felt bad for the bears given how hot and dry it is.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials have pointed to prolonged dry conditions as a driving factor in a statewide uptick in bear activity. With natural food sources reduced by drought, animals are moving into neighborhoods and campgrounds in search of calories and water.
Record pace for sightings
CPW told KDVR that 2026 is on pace to be a record year for bear sightings in Colorado and that the state has recorded more than 1,000 additional sightings to date compared with last year. That mounting total has increased encounters in both mountain towns and valley communities as bears range farther in search of food.
| Year | Reported trend |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Baseline year referenced by CPW |
| 2026 | On pace to be a record year; >1,000 more sightings to date than 2025 |
What residents should know and do
Wildlife officials routinely advise simple, preventive steps to reduce the risk of attracting bears to homes and yards. Key recommendations include:
- Secure garbage in bear-resistant containers and avoid leaving trash curbside overnight.
- Remove bird feeders during summer months when natural foods are scarce.
- Keep pet food and coolers indoors or in secured storage.
- Never approach or feed a bear; maintain a safe distance and back away slowly if you encounter one.
For property owners in mountain and foothills communities, small attractants such as dog pools, fallen fruit, barbecue residue and backyard grills can draw bears into yards. Even when bears appear nonthreatening — as in the Steamboat Springs footage — encounters can become dangerous if animals become habituated to human food sources.
CPW tracks sightings and issues guidance through its regional offices. Residents who see a bear behaving aggressively, entering homes or repeatedly returning to a location are urged to report the incident to Colorado Parks and Wildlife so officials can assess whether further action, such as hazing or relocation, is necessary.
The footage from Steamboat Springs underlines how drought and higher temperatures are changing wildlife behavior across Colorado. Neighbors shared relief that the bear left without incident, but the episode also reminded local residents of the shifting risks wildlife can pose during a hot, dry summer.
