A Colorado Springs family woke up on July 21 to find a black bear inside their kitchen, eating food and rummaging through a trash can. Security footage showed the bear entering through a back door that had been left open to provide a breeze during a hot morning. The family eventually scared the animal away by opening the door and making noise. The incident reflects wider concerns about bears entering homes in search of food during difficult natural feeding conditions.
| 1) | The bear enters a Colorado Springs kitchen |
| 2) | A morning discovery alarms the family |
| 3) | Food and household items attract the animal |
| 4) | The family drives the bear outside |
| 5) | The encounter highlights broader bear conflicts |
The bear enters a Colorado Springs kitchen
The incident took place at a family home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on July 21. A black bear entered the kitchen through a back door that had been left open during a hot morning so air could circulate through the house. Security footage recorded the animal walking inside and looking for food.
The bear remained near the kitchen and helped itself to items that had been left accessible. Its entry appears to have been driven by the availability of human food rather than any interaction with the family before it came indoors.
A morning discovery alarms the family
Nerissa England said she was getting ready in the morning when she heard a bang. She initially believed a picture had fallen from a wall. Her three children, ages 8, 6 and 3, were upstairs playing and were unharmed.
England said her 8-year-old daughter, Zara Lee, went downstairs to investigate. England’s husband followed while preparing to get coffee, and the pair then encountered the bear near the kitchen door.
“She rounded the corner into our kitchen, and a bear was eating our trash right outside the kitchen door.”
The unexpected discovery turned an ordinary morning into a potentially dangerous wildlife encounter inside the family’s home.
Food and household items attract the animal
After entering the kitchen, the bear ate food that had been left on a table, including Flintstones vitamins. It also dragged a trash can outside and began rummaging through the contents near the kitchen door.
These actions show how easily household food and waste can draw bears toward residential areas. The open door provided access, while the smell of food and discarded items gave the animal a reason to remain on the property.
The family drives the bear outside
Zara Lee and her father managed to scare the bear away by opening the door and making noise. The family did not report injuries, and the bear left the home after the confrontation.
England said the family planned to keep the door closed in the future. The change is intended to prevent another bear from following food smells into the house, particularly while bears remain active before hibernation.
“We will be keeping the door shut for a while until the local bears get the food they need and go into hibernation!”
The encounter highlights broader bear conflicts
The Colorado incident occurred amid a wider increase in reports of bears entering homes across the United States. Dry conditions had reduced the availability of plants, grasses, berries and nuts, which make up about 90% of a bear’s diet.
With fewer natural food sources available, bears have been drawn to the strong smells of human food and household waste. Increased contact with people has contributed to bear deaths in some states, including animals that were euthanized, struck by vehicles, shot or electrocuted after interacting with humans.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A black bear entered a Colorado Springs home on July 21. |
| 2 | The animal came through a back door left open during hot weather. |
| 3 | It ate food and vitamins, then dragged a trash can outside. |
| 4 | Family members scared the bear away by opening the door and making noise. |
| 5 | Reduced natural food supplies have increased bear encounters with people. |
Summary
A black bear entered a Colorado Springs family’s kitchen after an exterior door was left open during a hot July morning. The animal ate available food, including vitamins, and searched through a trash can before family members drove it away with noise. The encounter underscores the risks created when bears are attracted to accessible food and waste in residential areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the bear enter the home?
The bear entered the Colorado Springs home on July 21.
Why was the back door open?
The door had been left open to let in a breeze during hot weather.
How did the family remove the bear?
Zara Lee and her father opened the door and made noise, which scared the bear away.
What attracted the bear?
Food, vitamins and trash inside or near the kitchen attracted the animal, while broader dry conditions had reduced natural food sources for bears.
