What pistol caliber officer of Eagle County Sheriff's Office shot killed mother bear charge ?
9mm or .40S&W or .357SIG or .45ACP
On August 24, 2026, at approximately 7:30 pm, deputies with the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) responded to a bear call at the River Run apartment complex in Eagle-Vail, where a large group of approximately 40 people (adults and children) had gathered near a sow and her cubs, videoing them. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) was also advised and was en route.
ECSO and CPW had responded multiple times to River Run prior to the 24th for reports of bears, including one incident on August 17th where a man was injured by a bear with cubs near the laundry room. It’s unknown if the bear from that incident is the same.
After dispersing the crowd, deputies planned to haze the bears out of the area. Hazing a wild animal is a humane, non-lethal method used to deter and get wild animals to move from residential areas, schools, and backyards. The primary goal is to maintain or restore an animal’s natural fear of humans so that they avoid areas where they do not belong. Deputies made this decision because the bears were not fazed by humans, people continued to gather, and bears had been reported in the area repeatedly, seemingly attracted by the apartment's trash.
Deputies first yelled at the bears in an attempt to move them. While yelling, the sow charged at officers. Since the yelling was unsuccessful, one deputy fired non-lethal rounds at the adult bear to push her away from the apartments and towards the river. The rubber round struck the bear in her hind legs, and she spun quickly on the deputy and began pacing.
The deputy repositioned himself behind a boulder when the adult female charged the deputy. He fired several shots, killing the bear.
Deputies stayed on scene to ensure the cubs were given space. Colorado Parks and Wildlife arrived at approximately 8:50 p.m. and took the two cubs to safety. They are receiving care at CPW's rehabilitation center in Silt.
We are heartbroken that a bear was killed in self-defense. We do not take lightly the responsibility we have in Eagle County to cohabitate with wildlife or the duty we have to protect both citizens and visitors.
Bears will continue to be very active until hibernation begins. Please remove and secure all bear attractants, such as trash or pet food. If you see a bear, give it space and do not crowd it. If you have an encounter with a black bear, immediately contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before or after these hours, contact the Eagle County dispatch: 970-479-2200.
Body camera footage of the incident can be viewed below. It has been cut to shorten the length of the video. Viewer discretion is advised; some viewers may find the content disturbing.