Jefferson County bear attack leaves man hospitalized

A man in his 60s is recovering from leg injuries after being attacked by a bear in Jefferson County, Colorado. The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. Friday near the confluence of the Platte rivers while the man was walking toward a parking lot after fishing.

Witnesses reported that a subadult female bear knocked the man to the ground and bit his legs. The attack lasted several minutes before bystanders managed to scare the animal away. The victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture responded to the scene. Using a dog team to track the animal by scent, officials located and euthanized the bear on Saturday morning in accordance with agency policy. A necropsy will be performed by wildlife veterinarians. Officials noted the bear showed no signs of nursing and no cubs were found nearby.

This marks the sixth reported bear attack in the region in 2026. Authorities attribute increased bear boldness to hyperphagia—a period of intense calorie consumption—compounded by a historic drought that has reduced natural food sources. CPW advises residents to remain alert, stay in groups, and secure all trash to minimize human-bear conflicts.