Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating a bear attack after an adult bear entered an Estes Park home and injured an elderly woman in the early morning hours of Friday.

Around 4:30 a.m., a bear broke into a house on the western side of town through an unlocked, closed window on the first floor. The homeowner, a woman in her 80s, told CPW officers she awoke to find the bear in the kitchen on the second floor. The bear charged her, scratched her across the stomach and knocked her to the ground, then left through the first floor window. She sought medical treatment for her abdominal injuries.

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Larimer County Sheriff's deputies responded after the victim called 911, but no bear was found. CPW has requested assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to locate the bear. CPW officers have also set traps to remove bears posing an immediate public safety risk.

Heavy bear activity has been reported in the area, with multiple bears breaking into occupied homes and vehicles in the days preceding the attack.

"As we continue to navigate this extraordinary bear year, please continue to be vigilant in removing food and trash that may attract bears to your property," said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Jason Duetsch. "Wildlife officers are working tirelessly to respond to an unprecedented number of bear reports, and we are counting on the community to help mitigate conflict."

Colorado is experiencing an unprecedented bear conflict year largely due to drought conditions depleting natural food sources. As bears enter hyperphagia, activity is expected to increase while they search for 20,000 calories per day before denning, driving them into neighborhoods and populated areas. More information is available at cpw.state.co.us/news/08132026/drought-drives-record-bear-activity-cpw-urges-coloradans-take-actions-new-bill.

Residents are urged to keep trash secured at all times, lock windows, doors and vehicles, and take down bird feeders until Thanksgiving. Never feed or leave out food for bears — feeding wildlife is illegal and contributes to habituation toward humans. Bear activity and conflicts can be reported to CPW at cpw.state.co.us/contact-us. Additional bear conflict prevention information is available at cpw.state.co.us/living-bears.