Woman Walks Out and Finds Bear Asleep in Her Front Yard

You know the phrase “let sleeping dogs lie”? Well, maybe we turn that phrase a bit to be “let sleeping bears lie.” Because this woman below found a bear sleeping in her yard…yes, a napping bear!

Update: Sadly, this beloved black bear of Colorado succumbed to its injuries, and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department was forced to euthanize it. The following news reports on when the bear was first sighted and how it came to this end. 

Black Bear Sighting in Colorado

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, a massive black bear was found in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, taking an afternoon nap. Homeowner Shannon Lukens arrived home to find this black bear in her yard, seemingly just napping. “We honked and yelled, and it didn’t matter. He isn’t moving fast,” Shannon Lukens told FOX31.

The black bear looked as if he just needed the rest and wasn’t showing any signs of aggression. So, the kind homeowner let the bear sleep.

“He is sound asleep at the side of the house right now,” Lukens told FOX31 in an email Saturday afternoon. “We’ll just let him have his nap and hopefully, he’ll find a better place to hibernate, soon.”

Why Do Bears Come Up to People’s Homes?

Finding bears of any kind in one’s yard isn’t exactly the type of animal one might expect. Sure, we might expect to see a stray cat, a squirrel, or a lizard. But, a bear would be enough to make any scared. So, why do bears come right up to people’s homes? Nine times out of ten, it’s because these bears are searching for food.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department offers its thoughts as to why we need to be careful with food in an area where bears are abundant. “Black bears are curious, intelligent, and very resourceful; they will explore all possible food sources. If they find food near homes, camp​grounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more. “ 

How Many Black Bears Live in Colorado?

The North American black bear (Ursus americanus) of the genus Ursus is estimated to have approximately 800,000 black bears roaming through North America. Their population status is considered to be of the least concern.

There are estimated to be up to 20,000 black bears that reside in Colorado as of 2021. With this many bears roaming the great state of Colorado, we must look out for them. Should they look sickly, give a call to your local department to report the findings so they can receive the help they need before it is too late.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Yobab/Shutterstock.com