Colorado is Grizzly Bear Habitat: Yes, Grizzly Bears Live in Colorado

A bear seen in Steamboat Springs from July 9th Commentor

A bear seen in Steamboat Springs from July 9th Commentor

A bear seen in Steamboat Springs from July 9th Commentor A bear seen in Steamboat Springs from July 9th Commentor

Don’t believe that the southern rockies are not grizzly bear habitat

In 1997 while on a trip through La Manga Pass in southern Colorado, I spotted a large bear with 2 cubs in tow.

Upon looking with my Nikon Trailblazer binoculars, the large female (around 250 to 300lbs) had a massive head, large hump and was brown with a definite silver back and belly. You could see very definite long claws.

The cubs were chocolate with silver faces. They were all large for bears in the mountains.

I have hunted both grizzly and black and this was a family of mountain grizzly bears in Colorado.

I reported the sighting to the local warden and got very little interest.

If the grizzly bears continued their hurried pace they would have crossed into New Mexico in a few miles.

Comments for Colorado is Grizzly Bear Habitat: Yes, Grizzly Bears Live in Colorado

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Feb 25, 2013Rating

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Nada, probablyNEWby: Anonymous

I am a retired Biologist from Yellowstone National Park. Simply stated, there is a VERY low chance of any Grizzly left in Colorado. I was involved in research in the South San Juan Wilderness and there was little physical evidence of them, and what evidence was found was extremely nebulous and dated.
The population dynamics are such a small population would just die out. And the San Juans of Colorado are heavily hunted and visual sightings (valid ones from experienced outdoors-men) would be common, and they are not.On the other side of this argument, it is clear that Canis Lupus has reappeared in Colorado, but they are long distance travelers who are capable of moving though the Red Desert in Wyoming. Very unlikely for a Griz…I hope I am wrong. And certainly friends of mine and professionals in the wildlife field are seeing both Ocelots and Jaguars in Arizona, and they had both been thought to be extinct in the state.

Feb 20, 2013Rating

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For the Love of God…NEWby: Anonymous


Stay down in NM if Mr Griz scares you…we know how to coexist with them in the Northern Rockies. That being said, can anyone find a more lame “sighting” than this. Nice and recent, too. Maybe it was tagging along with Mr Bigfoot.


Feb 19, 2013Rating

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Possible Grizz Sighting in New MexicoNEWby: Dave in Virginia

I personally would like Mr. Grizz to stay put in his current range — when I’m on a trout stream I prefer to be the critter highest on the food chain rather than keeping a look out for Grizz as I did when on a recent Montana fishing trip.
Back in the late 80’s my wife and I visited her father in New Mexico — we travelled up to the Conejos in Southern Colorado; one of his favorite streams. On the way home to Albuquerque, and just over the CO border into New Mexico, west of Chama, we spotted some 30 yds away what appeared to be a large bear cub moving briskly up an arroyo and into scrub pinon where he disappeared. We all got a real good look at him and were unanimous in describing him: about three feet at the shoulder, lanky, small humbed back, longish/scraggly honey-colored hair. No mama bear seen — as if the cub were following. My father-in-law fished just about every stream in NM and contiguous areas of CO and AZ. Hunted deer and elk. He reported our sighting to the NM wildlife folks as a “possible grizzly bear cub.”My father-in-law was a career USAF pilot and I am a retired intel professional — and both, sceptical of “sightings” of whatever without substantive proof. Unless you physically can touch it and verify it, whatever “it” is it never can be described as more than a “possible.”That said, my gut said “Grizz” when I saw this bear and I learned a long time ago to mind what my gut tells me. Professional sceptic that I am I still would call this a possible Grizz sighting in Northern NM.

Dec 11, 2012Rating

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Relocation of Grizzlys from Yellowstone to COby: Ken


I grew up in Uravan CO in the 1950s, and often hiked up Tabeguache Creek with Boy Scouts, etc. We were all told to be careful of grizzlys which were supposedly relocated there (by whom I don,t remember)way back up into the Uncompahgre Plateau.
It supposedly happened not that many years prior (1940s ?). However, I can find no current info indicating whether this was true or not. I would be interested in finding out if it really happened, and if so, how they survived back there.


Nov 14, 2012Rating

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confirmed colorado grizzlyby: Anonymous

Just yesterday I was talking to a fellow in the Colorado springs sportsmans wharehouse. His family owns a ranch west of Weston Colorado. An area known for having lots of black bears. In fact there’s a swa down there called Bosque del oso (forest of the bear). Anyway I love to bear hunt and know of this area. So I asked this guy how he did this year. Anyway out of curiosity I asked if he had ever heard of grizzly bears being spotted in the area. He got a little excited and pulled out his cell phone. His friend shot a bear that resembled a grizzly. He showed multiple pics of the bear. I consider myself an expert in distinguishing grizzly bears. I would say this bear with a 90% certainty, that it was a grizzly. The only thing that didn’t look grizzly was the front claws which were’nt that long. Now supposedly the local game called down a whole buch of other wardens or biologists to have a look at this guys bear. The one game warden wanted the others to see what this bear looked like. They would not confirm nor deny whether it was a grizzly. The game warden off the record said there are a few down there and they’re trying to keep it a secret. They don’t want the feds down here declaring the area home to a endangered species. That would be bad for the state.

Oct 31, 2012Rating

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Grizzly Expansionby: RW Akile


Over time the Grizzly Bears in Wyoming will expand south into Colorado. I would say that there are probably as many as 5 males that have breached the Colorado Border. Maybe 2 to 3 females may have penetrated the area as well. Optimistic – yes; but entirely possible. The probability index is is better than 50%. This observation is made following reports of Grizzlies being sighted in Southern Wyoming less than a hundred miles from Colorado. time is on the Bears side.


Aug 28, 2012Rating

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photos are of black bearsby: Anonymous


I see bears in my yard almost every week. They are black bears, just like the ones in the photos here. They come in many colors. Some black bears are even white. Although, I do believe it possible that there are grizzlies in CO, these photos are not grizzlies. Sorry.


Aug 21, 2012Rating

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Brown Bear…..by: Thunder Lodge BV

Called 911..to get animal control..reported large brown bear on back porch …it ran to neighbors yard where the police cornered and shot…Aug 21, 2012

Jul 24, 2012Rating

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brown bears in pagosa springs Coloradoby: Anonymous


Hey there. Im from Colorado an am vacationing in pagosa springs. I ran into the sheriff last night while having a smoke. He told me I might want to stay indoors after dark because they have two roughly 600 hundred pound brown bears digging in the trash around the condos. The dumpsters are directly below my window, and tonight I heard them being knocked around. Upon looking out my window there digging in the trash was definitely a brown bear(though it was a little reddish and didnt have a hump). It walked by my F150 and its back was about as tall as the hood of the truck. Yep are here and thriving.


Jul 22, 2012Rating

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Cinnamon Bearby: Anonymous


I was recently hiking near Georgetown, CO and spotted a reddish brown bear about 60 feet down the path from me. Most of him/her was hidden by brush, so I couldn’t tell the size. I do know the back didn’t have a hump by the shoulders. I know you are not supposed to run, but I did – uphill, fast. It hadn’t seemed to notice me. It didn’t follow. We looked online and it fit the description of the Colorado Cinnamon bear: a subset of the black bear. I have also been told there are no grizzlies or true brown bears in Colorado. Should I have shouted or made noise to scare it off?


Jul 19, 2012Rating

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GRIZZLYby: Anonymous

Silver and a hump on the back???? I do believe you are describing my mother-in-law (and she is in Indiana. So would she be a protected species????

Jul 07, 2012Rating

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Grizz & Other Creaturesby: Anonymous


Along with Grizz, there is other creatures that are NOT supposed to be in Colorado… Just don’t understand why the CO DOW wants to hide such beautiful creatures!


Jun 28, 2012Rating

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…..about the PA lionsby: J-nonymous


There’s not proper contiguous habitat for lions to have a viable breeding population in PA or WV. The game commission’s and DOW’s aren’t hiding facts. No conspiricy. They rely on scientific evidence. Not just what farmer Joe saw when he was making hay in Connellsville. Until they get a dead lion that’s not a released pet, they can’t claim a wild breeding population. Same goes for the CO Grizz. I do hope these critters will someday return to their original ranges. Afterall, Colorado has some great habitat!


Jun 22, 2012Rating

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Colorado Grizzly by: Anonymous

I know for a fact ther are Grizzly’s in Colorado. I saw one last year eating off the remains of an Elk that I shot last Sept. I went back a couple days later to retreive the arrow. There was no doubt in my mind. This was the biggest bear that I have ever seen and the hump on the back was not mistakable! I believe that the div. of wildlife is just keeping it quiet. I am from Pennsylvainia and just like there the div. of wildlife says we don’t have mountain lions!!! I have pictures of them and many people have seen them, the div of wildlife says they only exist in West Virginia. Well just like here in Colorado its the same stretch of mountains that cross from state to state, are you telling me that these animals know where the state line is and that they won’t cross it? Its just a matter of time.

Jun 11, 2012Rating

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I saw the same bear as ROCKY MOUNTAINby: Meg in Colo Springs


I was riding the COG going up to the top of Pikes Peak on 10 June 2012.
We spotted a giant golden brown bear that resembled a grizzly. I was with two men from Bozeman, Montana and they thought they were looking at a grizzly. So we must have sighted the same bear that Rocky Mountain talks about in his post.


Jun 05, 2012Rating

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Colorado Grizzlyby: Rocky Mountain

I was recently about a mile above the incline bout 0800 in the morning cut back off the bar trail at the 3 mile toward the incline and walked up behind the biggest bear I’ve seen close up in the wild in my life! Back Ground I’m 54 from Northwest Montana spend a lot of time in the woods to include Waterton/Glazier National Park, Yellowstone, Olympic Peninsula, Any way I’d give this old boy 36 inches heel to hip, very log leg hair actually stood out, and a Head that reminded me of every Grizzly I ever saw? I ask around and the people I talked with all told me there was no Grizzlies in Colorado. Well I beg to differ! Anyway I hollered Bear! Bear! and he headed down the mountain lickety split. My Heart was still pumping thirty Yards from a big bear without a bazooka is to close for me. Any way I believe there is at least one Grizzly in Colorado.


Mar 11, 2012Rating

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Grizzlies in COby: Anonymous


I’ve studied and collected evidence and stories about grizzlies in CO for almost a decade now. They’re here, just not that many of them. Yep, Marty did indeed let a male grizzly loose in 1982, south of the Maroon Bells. Last year, I bumped into a guy and long story short, he showed me a picture he took on his cell phone. Clearly a grizzly, hump and all. Waited ten years for that photo. I am convinced they are here. Unfortunately, those pics are indeed of a black bear cub.


Jan 17, 2012Rating

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These are black bears.by: Katie J.


The bears in these images are NOT grizzlies. The most distinguishable feature of a grizzly is the very pronounced hump on their back. There is no hump on the back of these bears (the picture of the cub displays this especially well – that is a black bear cub). Also, just because they are called black bears doesn’t mean they are ONLY black. They come in a variety of colors including all shades of brown. Some black bears in British Columbia are white and are known as spirit bears.


Jan 06, 2012Rating

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Poisen Mdw, south sierraby: Anonymous

In 1995, while on a hiking trip in the southern sierras in california I came very close to a large bear which looked very much like a grizzly. A few years ago in the same area I spotted a similiar bear further down from the original area near a large river. These are in fact black bears, but obviously much larger, lighter in color. They had a large head and yes, a hump. But I believe they are black bears, perhaps hybrids with remnents of brown bear genes. Other hybrids of Brown bears and polar bears have been discovered in Alaska so such hybrids are very possible.

Sep 23, 2011Rating

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Grizzlies Do Existby: Josh


There are probably less than a 10 grizzlies left in Southern Colorado. Marty Stouffer (Wild America) supposedly encountered a male grizzly in the southern colorado rockies in the early 1980’s. It is also known that Stouffer released a female grizzly cub in which he raised into Southern Colorado in the early 1980’s. According to Stouffer the male and female grizzlies ended up getting together. The sporadic grizzlies seen in southern colorado could be the offspring of Stouffer’s released female grizzly. If you dont believe me watch episode three of the first season of ‘Wild America.’ I’m sure colorado fish and game know about the grizzlies but are staying quiet about the issue. Yeah, the grizzlies are there, but the issue remains how close the genetics are in these grizzlies and are they all in-bred after a limited gene supply, or is colorado fish and game secretly bringing in new grizzlies from the yellowstone region to improve the genes. It wouldnt suprise me if they are being brought in.


Aug 24, 2011Rating

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Brown Colored Bears Are Not Grizzly Bearsby: Perry


The bears spotted in Steamboat Springs, CO (and pictured above) are not Grizzly Bears.
Even though they are cinnamon/brown colored, the distinguishable feature between black and brown (grizzly) bears is the hump. There is no noticeable hump in these images, so they are technically Black Bears (even though they are brown in color).I know… Confusing.


Aug 08, 2011Rating

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Your Picturesby: Perry


Hi Scooter,
Email them to me and I’ll get them up on your story :)Thanks!~ Perry
perry

@

glacier-national-park-travel-guide.com


Aug 07, 2011Rating

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Picturesby: Scooter


Where should I post them?


Aug 07, 2011Rating

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Reply to Request for picturesby: Scooter


Hey I have pictures, where can I post them where you guys can see them? I would like somebody to have a look at these as I believe this was a Grizzly that I spotted in Colorado.


Aug 07, 2011Rating

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Post a pic of July 9 bearby: Anonymous

Hey, poster from July 9, can you share pictures?

Jul 09, 2011Rating

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Grizzly in Coloradoby: Anonymous


Are you guys able to help me identify whether the bear i found in my yard with her cubs is a black bear or a grizzly?


Aug 23, 2010Rating

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Hopefullby: Anonymous


I’m no tree hugger but I’d love to see Grizzly bears make a come back here. It sounds like you know the difference between a Blackie and a Grizz! La Manga pass is’nt very far from where the last Grizzly sightings were in the South San Juans. I hope there are a few still out there, and from what I gather from people I think there are!


Aug 10, 2010Rating

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colorado griz?by: Anonymous

it has been over thirty years since confirmed sighting in colorado however it was in this area so it would be awesome if they were how and where did they come from? have u seen any others besides these three?

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Comments

  1. Randy Brown says

    Yes, you probably did see a grizzly bear. I have a friend who lives in Colorado up around the 8,000 foot level. I can’t tell you where he lives because he is concerned about the classification of his land should a rare animal be observed upon his property. He has seen a lone grizzly and a lynx, which he has photographed, on his property. He has lived on this property for many years and knows the local animals, thus leading him to believe the grizzly and lynx he saw were probably just passing through. Where they are from or going to is anyone’s guess.

  2. Frederick says

    Grizzly bears have just as much right to be in Colorado as humans. We came from Africa, we’re thriving. Frankly, if you are going to kill off bears because they scare you, get rid of some people too.

    Bears aren’t the ones walking through buildings with explosives on their chests with intentions to kill just to kill. They attack very rarely, and they do it for survival. They don’t do it to put your head up on their wall, that’s us, selfish humans, destructive and greedy humans.

    Some heavily populated areas in China don’t have any animals, period. Just humans. They ate off all the chipmunks, squirrels, and other common animals. That is a direction that America is slowly headed.

    It’s not totally anybody’s fault, many humans were raised differently, poorly educated, simply ignorant.

    It’s time to start looking at the big picture, when you do, you see things differently. You become enlightened. I hope the rednecks reading this don’t get too offended, but if I have kids, I’d like them to be able to experience the real world, not having to go to the zoo or watch old National Geographic shows to see an animal that I’m able to see today.

    • Perry Rosenbloom says

      Hi Frederick,

      I don’t believe anyone here is saying grizzlies shouldn’t live in Colorado–just that they don’t. There is an element of me that doesn’t want them returning to Colorado as that completely changes how me and my family hike.

      Still, I would welcome them here, if they eventually did return to this range.

      ~ Perry

    • Anonymous says

      Many thanks for your thoughtful and humane outlook, which I share. Surprise we are not the only species on this planet. What a sorrowful earth without would animals. We should be treasuring them versus killing them.

  3. Anonymous says

    Unfortunatly , the grizzly bear is an A-1 predator. Colorado being as populated as it is ( and only getting worse), would not be the sanctuary to the big browns as it once was. They were driven from here before because human encroachment , land development and a general fear of them.(over hunting). To re introduce them here today in modern Colorado would be courting disaster for them and for the first few unfortunate fatalities which would occur probably following a lingering drought ( much like the one happening now). Humanity being part of nature ,drove these magnificent creatures out the region many years ago. To try to re intro-force or coax them back into the Colorado wild would seem to be unnatural at best.

  4. Sorry, this is a brown toned Black Bear. The ears are a big give away in this photo. Grizzly Bear ears are much shorter and round. These ears are too pointy and tall to be a Grizzly. The side profile photo would be helpful if it were larger. The silver tiped fur would be a good indication of a Griz, however, older brown bears can have this feature as well. Nice sighting though.

  5. To the grizzly expert who visited the San Juans and did research….read where the picture was taken.

    You were in the San Juans, southwestern CO, right next to NM (as Im sure you know since youve “been” there)

    The photo was taken near Steamboat Springs…..You are talking a 250-350 mile difference. Grizzly bears are commonly found in WY and even found as close as Medicine Bow National Forest….. a 90 mile DRIVE.

    You might know what you’re talking about when it comes to grizzly bears, and possibly even know what you’re talking about when it comes to grizzlies in the San Juans, but you OBVIOUSLY know nothing about Colorado and its mountain ranges.

    Weird for a grizzly to be 75 miles from its KNOWN, CITED HABITAT? Maybe, possible? DEFINITELY

    -Local Coloradan

  6. John H. says

    Last fall during 3rd season rifle, near Crawford Co. I watched some hunters from Texas gut shot a cow elk, I felt bad after watching the texans give up after twenty min of tracking. Being the steward and ethical sportsman I am I followed the blood trail for almost 6 hours, Until I noticed there was another in persuit of the wounded cow. At first glance I figured it was just a cinnamon colored black bear, after further observation I realized there was something very interesting about this bear. Almost all the characteristics of a grizzly, I’ve observed a few in Yellowstone and one while backpacking in Glacier. I stayed back and watched through my svoroski spotting scope, and it had the hump and a dishouvled face. I have pictures of the tracks, almost positively grizzly tracks. I’ve hunted black bears my whole life and these weren’t the tracks of a black bear. It wasn’t a huge bear maybe 350 + I believe what I witnessed was a grizzly. I talked to two other hunters from montrose, who had witnessed a similar bear feeding off two seperate gut piles in the same area. Needless to say I’m a little more optimistic about the idea that grizzlies are making their way back into Colorado from Wyoming. The division of wildlife seems to be turning a blind eye to the situation, I believe to not draw attention to the fact that they here. They will have a better chance of repopulating without the publicity of their presence turning the whole thing into a frenzy.

    • John H. says

      I’m also a 5th generation native to colorado this comes with a level of credibility . I’ve been hunting my entire life. I always called bullshit on these sightings of grizzlies here in colorado. I’m pretty damn sure what I saw was the real thing. The only other story I know of that has any type of credibility is the one near Trinidad, my uncle was one of the DOW officers that showed up to take a look at that bear that couldn’t be identified to be a black or a grizzly bear. It was a mystery bear…..

  7. Just sighted a Brown Bear outside of Walsenburg Co on a hill side. Very pronounced hump, cinnamon color, black around snout and paws. Have pics to prove it. Coincidentally it was on Bear Creek Rd.

  8. Anonymous says

    “I know for a fact ther are Grizzly’s in Colorado. I saw one last year eating off the remains of an Elk that I shot last Sept. I went back a couple days later to retreive the arrow.” ~ Anonymous

    Seriously? You shot an elk and just left it there? WTF is wrong with you? Stay the f*ck out of Colorado.

  9. there are no grizzlies in colorado, the brown or reddish bears you are seeing are black bears. black bears can be a range of colors, from almost blonde all the way to brown and of course deep black.

    • People also said the same thing about wolves in Oregon. They didn’t want the ranchers causing an uproar. Prior to working with ODFW I called in many wolf sightings. Now they openly admit there are in fact wolves there. Oregon has one of the biggest Wolf packs in that area. The Imnaha wolf pack continues to thrive and reproduce. As far as Grizzlies go, adult males have been known to cover a range of 500 miles. So you mean to tell me that it is 100% impossible for bears from our neighboring (known grizzly states) to not inhabit Colorado or breed, or change territories? As someone who had worked for the fish and game, been a hunting guide and have a very credible education I would love to see the facts you are basing your statement on James.

  10. holy grizzly says

    I live in black forest Colorado springs. I awoke to my three dogs barking ferociously up a tree. I went out and called them in thinking they had a squirrel up a tree. They always come and they wouldn’t today. I walked over to see they had a 300-400 lb bear up a tree. It was light brown like the color of sun bleached dirt. I ran in for my gun. When I came back out they were chasing it across the yard and it hopped the fence and kept going. Guess its time to clean up from the party we had yesterday huh?

  11. I have a picture of one on my old phone from the Wet Mountains.
    Unmistakenly a Griz.

  12. going_4_broke says

    I decided to google grizzs in Colorado because I have hunted above Masonville and for about the last 7 years ive had suspicions of them being up there. Not a lot but a few, although ive only had two possible sightings from about 600 yards away, this last elk hunt I came across a track that I have compared to grizz tracks and I know for a fact it is not a black bear. I have hunted black bears for 22 years I grew up on a ranch in the Gila in new mexico. I know what a black bear looks like and that they come in many different colors and what not ive seen them in various colors but this track was about the size of my step brothers foot. He wears a size 13 boot. I am actually packing in two weeks from now and am putting up game cams in the spots were ive seen the most sign and the two possible sightings. I hope to get some good pics and prove all the non-believers wrong.

  13. My mother, my two boys and I saw a lone Grizzly Bear near Walsenburg Colorado. I didn’t think Grizzlies existed in Southern Colorado, but I was really surprised when it walked right out in front of my truck. I would guess the bear weighed around 600 pounds. I am used to seeing black bears but that one really caught us by surprise.

  14. Mountain pilot says

    I here to tell you as a Colorado native hunter ,avid hiker and fisherman my wife and I came across a 1000 plus male griz in the cimmarons on our drive to my mothers house. I honestly mistook him for a neighbors bull and said”oh he’s out again ” that was until he stood on his hind legs and challenged the Chevy suburban we were driving ! It was early fall and knowing the difference I stopped to see if he has a hump between his shoulders ! Sure enough . I put the truck in reverse and he bolted across the road in one or two leaps . We waited for a while and drove up to where he had crossed the road. I had a 44 with me it turned ou the claws in a dry dirt road measured almost four inches and had a hook I’m them. Look I have tracked many black bear and this was a big grizzly boar. I know ! Plus later about 10 minutes one of the local ranch hands stopped to warn us . He remembered me fr a previous elk hunt we both concluded or had to have been a grizzly male … That’s my account .

  15. My buddy Dale and I were hunting near Shelf Rd between Canon City and Cripple Creek. We pulled of because Dale had to pee. I was glassing the treeline (350 yards at most) when I see this HUGE bear lock eyes on Dale. Its took a few sly steps forward and I yelled for Dale to get in the truck. About the time Dale was in the truck and could see the beast for himself the bear was standing up. This was the biggest bear I had seen since Alaska. I am a hunting guide so no only am I plenty familiar with wildlife but educated as well. This bear has a huge round head, it was brown in color, rounded ears, pushing 600lbs stood 7 ft tall easy. We began to drive towards the bear to get a better look and he turned and bolted into the trees, at which point you could see a very distinct hump on his back. There was no doubt in my mind what we had just witnessed.

  16. Ken Vawter says

    We just had a young grizzly walk through our yard in Indian Mountain. He seemed to be very content and unaware of us watching him. We believe he will be back due to the things on his path.

  17. I have been a big game hunting guide for just just over 20 years and have hunted bears in several states. I have treeing walker hunting hounds and we tree lions and bears every year. I have seen some huge color phase black bears over the years so I know what big black bears look like. Recently I just returned from a trip to the San Juan Mountains in Colorado above Pagosa Springs. Within one hour of each other I sighted two differient bears. One was as large as a range bull, dark brown with lighter tips, huge head and large hump on the shoulders. This bear had to weigh around 800lbs This is the first Grizzly I’ve seen in the lower 48. It went like a freight train up through the trees when it winded me. It stopped once then ran again shaking its head from side to side. One hour later and 7 miles away I met with a friend on top the mountain and were driving out. As we drove around the bend in the road it was just getting dark, another huge bear was grazing at the edge of a marsh. My friend had a fit. He had never seen any bear in the wild let alone a large brown bear. As the bear heard the diesel truck, it stood up on its hind legs then turned and bounded, bouncing a couple of times while looking over its shoulder. I have never seen a black bear with such animated actions. I estimated this bear to be around 600lbs. easily as large as most of the cattle grazing a couple of miles down the road. The size, shoulder hump and unique mannerism I witnessed with these bears has left no doubt that they were grizzlies. I only wish I had been able to get over my shock and retreive my video camera quickly enough to get some decent footage. I am convinced that with some trail cams or spending time with a video camera watching the avalance chutes in the area, someone could get some great footage of these bears.

  18. June 28, 2015 spotted a very large grizzly bear
    50 yards off the highway on the pass before coming into Cimmaron, Colorado. We stopped and watched
    him from the highway for about 15 minutes, climb up
    the hillside. He was 2 tone in color, cinnamon on the
    backside and darker (not black) on the front. He had
    a humpback. He was so close we could smell him. Very
    distinct smell. Amazing creature!

  19. Mtnwandererexplorer says

    Byron what year was that. I found what looked very much like a rear grizz foot inla vetapass back in the late 60s that had been somehow separated from its owner it was large had dark blondishbrown rough fur and verylong awesome claws as well as large pads ,much larger than a black bears I’ve seen up to 600lb blackies who had substanstially smaller foot. I always wondered and wish I had been able to keep it! But it’s an incredible find for the area ,a very wild one due to inaccessability of the high back country

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  1. […] North American grizzly is found much further north, but southern Colorado has a few credible sightings. There is an uptick in sightings of grizzlies in the former Mexican grizzly […]

  2. […] North American grizzly is found much further north, but southern Colorado has a few credible sightings. There is an uptick in sightings of grizzlies in the former Mexican grizzly […]

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