Bear attacks elderly woman inside Estes Park home

An elderly woman in her 80s was attacked by an adult black bear inside her Estes Park, Colorado, home early Thursday morning. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the bear entered the residence through an unlocked first-floor window around 4:30 AM. The victim reported waking up to find the bear in her second-floor kitchen, where it charged her, knocked her to the ground, and scratched her across the stomach.

The bear subsequently exited through the first-floor window. The woman sought medical treatment for her abdominal injuries, and Larimer County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, though the bear was not located. CPW has requested assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to help locate the animal.

Wildlife officials described this as an “unprecedented bear conflict year,” noting that drought conditions have depleted natural food sources, driving bears toward human settlements. This incident follows a string of other bear attacks reported in Colorado throughout the month.