A bear was spotted outside Domino’s in Avon shortly after midnight on October 10, according to recording details supplied to Epic Colorado Life.
The scene is familiar: a storefront, a sidewalk, somewhere you might stop to collect dinner. This time, a bear was passing through.
The sighting puts a local face on a broader concern. Colorado’s bear reports nearly doubled during the first part of 2026—and fall is a time when bears are feeding heavily before winter.
What would you do if you stepped outside with your pizza and saw one?
A bear walks past Domino’s in Avon, Colorado, shortly after midnight on October 10, 2026. Video: Geovaunie Graham.
What the increase actually means
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recorded 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts between January 1 and August 13, 2026, compared with 3,115 during the same period in 2025.
Those figures count reports—not individual bears or attacks. They also cover the entire state, so they do not establish that sightings doubled in Avon.
In its August announcement, CPW described drought and reduced natural food availability as factors bringing bears into contact with people. The agency said nearly half of Colorado’s reported bear incidents in 2025 occurred during August, September and October. Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Why bears are feeding so heavily before winter
During late summer and fall, black bears enter a period called hyperphagia. They eat intensively to build the fat reserves they need for winter.
According to CPW, bears can consume up to 20,000 calories a day during this period. Most Colorado bears remain active into early November, although timing varies.
That seasonal appetite provides context for an October sighting. It does not tell us why this particular bear was outside Domino’s, or establish that the business provided a food source. Source: CPW’s Living with Bears guide
What kind of bears live here—and how big can they get?
The bear species found in Colorado is the American black bear. Despite the name, its coat can be brown, cinnamon, blond or black. CPW says there are no known grizzlies living in Colorado.
Adult male black bears weigh around 275 pounds, while adult females weigh about 175 pounds, according to CPW. The agency gives a general range of 100 to 450 pounds, depending on sex, season and food availability.
That is a species reference, not an estimate of the Avon bear’s size. A nighttime recording cannot reliably establish its weight, age or sex. Source: CPW’s black bear profile
How dangerous is a sidewalk encounter?
A sighting is not automatically an attack in progress. CPW says black bears seldom attack or behave aggressively, but they can defend themselves if they feel threatened.
The practical response is to give the animal space. A bear that appears calm is still a wild animal, and getting closer for a photograph can change the encounter.
If you are already inside a vehicle or building, remain there while the bear passes. Avoid turning a chance sighting into a close encounter. Source: CPW’s bear guidance
What to do if you encounter a black bear
CPW recommends adjusting your response to the bear’s behavior:
- It hasn’t noticed you: do not approach. Quietly move away.
- It sees you: back away slowly. Never run.
- It approaches you: stand your ground, wave your arms and yell. Stay with your group.
- It keeps approaching: use bear spray.
- It attacks: fight back aggressively. Do not play dead during a black bear attack.
Keep children close and dogs leashed. Do not allow a dog to chase or confront a bear. Source: CPW’s encounter instructions
The Avon sighting is a reminder to stay aware during ordinary errands, too. Bear country includes sidewalks, parking lots and the places we stop for dinner.
