Quick Take
- Black bears are described as non-aggressive, which raises the question of what actually pushed this one to attack a security guard inside a five-star hotel. See bear behavior explained →
- Fatal black bear encounters are rarer than most people think, but one specific factor dramatically increases the risk. That factor is hiding in plain sight around most homes and businesses. Understand the key risk factor →
- The bear didn't break in, and the way it actually got inside the hotel reveals a critical mistake many properties don't realize they're making. See how food conditioning works →
- Once a bear learns one thing about your property, wildlife officials say reversing it may be impossible, leaving lethal removal as the only outcome. Learn why it becomes irreversible →
A security guard at the St. Regis Aspen Resort went looking for a bear inside the hotel. Then he rounded a kitchen corner and found himself just a few feet from it.
Security footage captured the moment the startled black bear swiped at the guard and knocked him to the floor. The guard managed to get away and call 911. He was treated at a hospital for scratches on his back and later released.
Watch the Black Bear Encounter Inside the Hotel
The October 2023 encounter began after the bear entered the Aspen, Colorado, resort through an open door. Wildlife officers later used the hotel’s security footage and a distinctive white patch on the bear’s chest to identify the animal. They tranquilized the adult male after finding him in a tree near Conner Park, then euthanized him under Colorado Parks and Wildlife policy.
Why Did the Bear Swipe at the Guard?
The reported details point to a sudden surprise encounter. The guard did not see the bear before turning the corner, and the bear suddenly found a person directly in front of it. There is no indication that the animal had been stalking him.
Black bears usually try to avoid people. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says they seldom attack or behave in a truly aggressive way, but they can fight back when they feel threatened. That distinction matters, but it does not make a close encounter harmless. A startled or cornered bear is still a large, powerful wild animal capable of causing serious injuries in seconds.
How Dangerous Are Black Bears?
Fatal black bear attacks are rare. A 2011 study in The Journal of Wildlife Management documented at least 63 deaths in 59 incidents involving wild American black bears in the United States and Canada from 1900 through 2009.
The study also found that people’s food or garbage probably influenced the bear’s presence in 38% of the fatal incidents researchers could evaluate. That does not mean food drew this particular bear into the hotel; investigators did not establish what attracted it. It does show why unsecured food and trash create such a serious problem in bear country.
Black bears have an extraordinary sense of smell and readily investigate garbage, pet food, restaurant waste, grills, and other calorie-rich temptations. Once a bear repeatedly finds easy meals around homes or businesses, it can lose some of its natural wariness of people and become increasingly difficult to manage.
Feeding a Bear Can Become a Death Sentence
Feeding a black bear is never a kindness, whether the food is offered deliberately or left where the animal can reach it. A bear that connects people and buildings with an easy meal may return to neighborhoods, campsites, hotels, and restaurants while becoming bolder each time.
That is how a preventable habit can end badly for everyone. Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns that bears that grow too comfortable around people may damage property, threaten public safety, and ultimately have to be killed. The safest approach is to avoid creating a food-conditioned bear in the first place.
What Should You Do If a Bear Enters a Building?
Do not try to corner, chase, or confront it. The City of Aspen advises people to leave immediately if they can do so safely, call 911, and give the bear a clear way out. Stay outside until wildlife officers confirm that the animal has left. In other words, this is not the moment to become the person who gets the close-up video.
How to Store Garbage to Deter Bears
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Good garbage management is one of the simplest ways to keep bears from hanging around homes and businesses. Wildlife agencies recommend storing garbage responsibly in certified bear-resistant containers whenever possible. Aspen requires wildlife-resistant trash containers, but the same basic rule makes sense anywhere bears live.
If you do not have a bear-resistant container, keep tightly sealed trash inside a secure garage, shed, or other structure until collection day. Wash containers regularly, keep pet food indoors, clean food and grease from grills, and never leave unsecured garbage outside overnight.
Bears are remarkably good at finding an easy meal—and remembering where they found it. The best bear problem is still the one you never invite onto the property.
