Because we love lists, we found this list of documented bear attacks on people since 1998, compiled by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, compelling. A common thread: These guys are animals.
May 17, 1998: Male hiker attacked near Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Puncture wounds on his hip and scratches on his arm.
Sept. 18, 1998: A 53-year-old male hunter attacked in Lake County. Bite on the foot.
Aug. 4, 1999: A 56-year-old hiker was attacked after surprising a sow and her cubs in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Puncture wounds and scratch marks to his foot, ankle and leg.
Sept. 13, 2000: A bear on Grand Mesa bit one hunter on the buttocks and another on the hand and leg. A third hunter shot the bear in the abdomen, killing him.
July 8, 2001: A 16-year-old was attacked as he was sleeping at a campsite west of Gardner, where the bear was accustomed to finding food. Scrapes and several puncture wounds.
July 24, 2001: A scout leader was attacked in her tent as she slept by a black bear in Chaffee County; bites and scratches.
Aug. 2, 2001: A 17-year-old boy scout was injured in the back after a black bear entered his tent in at the Packerd High Adventure Scout Camp near Poncha Springs.
August 21, 2001: A 21-year-old attacked in his sleeping bag at the Lake Creek Campground. Bite on hand and injuries in the head, back and upper-right arm from the bear standing on him.
August 27, 2001: A 41-year-old woman was injured in the head by a black bear who swiped through the tent looking for food.
September 9, 2001: A 28-year-old hearing impaired man was hit by a bear from behind after coming in between a sow and her cub. Minor scratches and a strained knee.
September 20, 2001: A 48-year-old woman was attacked by a bear who jumped up and down on her a couple of times in Durango. Bruises.
October 5, 2001: A 20-year-old man was attacked while sleeping outside at a campground near Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Bite on right foot.
June 29, 2002: An 11-year-old boy attacked by a bear who ripped open the tent, stuck his head inside and bit the boy on the right leg.
August 20, 2002: A student camping in Mount Evans Wilderness Area with a group from his school was jumped on by a bear rampaging through the campground.
August 22, 2002: A bear came down on top of a tent and inadvertently put a one-inch scratch on the male who was sleeping in the tent in Teller County.
July 5, 2004: A federal wildlife agent attacked by a bear he was tracking in Gunnison County. The bear pulled the agent down bythe leg and bit him a couple of times on all four limbs.
July 28, 2004: A 19-year-old woman was rolled around by a bear that had entered her tent in Larimer County. Bruises.
Aug. 8, 2004: A woman was swiped by a bear on her porch in Larimer County. (She did not require medical attention and DOW officers described the incident as a non-aggressive encounter)
Aug.19, 2004: A female bear rummaging through a Garfield County cabin bit someone in the left foot after being startled.
Aug. 31, 2004: A sheep herder was bit on the leg and arm by a bear after trying to keep the bear from attacking his dog in Montrose County.
September 11, 2004: An elk hunter was swatted from behind by a bear as he was sitting on a stump. (The hunter did not require medical attention and the bear was not treated as aggressive)
July 13, 2003: Two campers were injured by a black bear at Rocky Mountain National Park. One man suffered a bite to his forehead and another required 30 staples in his skull.
July 19, 2005: A 14-year-old boy was attacked near Coaldale as he was sleeping in a tent. The boy was bitten on the left hand.
July 31, 2005: A 40-year-old man was mauled by a black bear north of Cripple Creek as he was sleeping in a motorhome. He suffered lacerations on the head and back.
September 19, 2005: An 85-year-old woman was attacked in her yard in El Paso County by a bear she had been feeding.
April 26, 2006: A 29-year-old man was attacked by a bear after leaving an outhouse. He suffered bruises and possible nerve damage to his neck and shoulder.
(Thanks to the Colorado Division of Wildlife for the bear photo by Joyce and Walt Wolff. There's no indication the bear shown attacked anyone in any way.)
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