Black bears, mountain lions, moose and elk have all been seen in Fort Collins, Windsor, Wellington, Loveland and Greeley in late summer and early fall, prompting some on social media to wonder why they are seeing wildlife in urban settings.
Despite the frequent social media posts about wildlife sightings in the area, Brandon Muller, Colorado Parks and Wildlife assistant area wildlife manager for Fort Collins, said it’s been business as usual.
“From our perspective, nothing has been out of normal,” he said.
He said the agency doesn’t believe wildfires west and northwest of Fort Collins are why residents are seeing wildlife in urban areas.
Muller said bears typically come into cities and towns this time of year to feast on apples and other food up to 20 hours a day, putting on weight, called hyperphagia, as they fatten up for winter.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release that more than half of bear incident reports in 2023 occurred in August, September and October.
Moose have been seen on the east and west side of Fort Collins in recent weeks. Muller said moose are known to do “walkabouts” — wandering about until eventually heading back to the mountains, which he said the agency believes the moose seen in the area are doing now.