THREE BEAR ATTACKS IN ASPEN THIS SEASON

In latest incident, a restaurant manager was bitten on Sunday.

A large black bear bit a restaurant manager in Aspen on Sunday night, the third bear attack in the resort town this summer, wildlife officials said.

Sunday’s attack happened at about 11:30 p.m. in the 300 block of East Hopkins Avenue, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The victim suffered four deep puncture wounds in his leg.

The attacks are raising “serious concerns” about bears looking for easy meals in populated areas, wildlife officials said in a news release.

The man bit Sunday night was trying to scare the bear out of a trash bin after employees refused to take out trash over fears of the bear. While the manager stood next to the trash bin, the bear climbed out, bit the man and ran off, the news release said.

“By attempting to scare the bear out of a dumpster, the man exposed himself to significant danger,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita. “It is likely the bear felt cornered and it reacted aggressively. As we have warned over and over again, this is the exact scenario that can happen when people and bears interact, and why it is so dangerous for bears to be around people.”

Wildlife officials questioned why the trash bin lid was open, “allowing the bear to find an easy meal.”

After the attack, wildlife officials searched the alley for additional evidence and worked with Aspen police in searching for the bear. DNA samples were taken from the victim’s clothing in an effort to eventually identify the bear.

“It’s unfortunate, but this bear will be put down when we find it,” Yamashita said.

On May 27, a 230-pound bear bit a woman as she hiked on the Hunter Creek Trail. Wildlife officers killed the bear several days later. “A necropsy revealed the bear’s stomach was full of birdseed obtained from backyard bird feeders,” the release said.

On July 27, a 500-pound bear swiped at a man in the Aspen Meadows Resort, tearing clothing and injuring the man’s arm. “Several witnesses reported that the bear had previously approached several people, exhibiting no fear,” the release said. Wildlife officer are still looking for that bear.

“In Pitkin County, every single night there are reports of bears in occupied homes, or attempting to break into homes or cars, in dumpsters, in downtown areas, alleys and backyards, the middle of the street, in trees, porches, breaking into businesses, approaching people, and so on,” Yamashita said.

“This is extremely worrisome. If people do not take this issue seriously, I believe it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. We as a community have been lucky that injuries to humans this summer have been relatively minor, but these attacks should be taken as a serious warning to take action now.”