3 bears euthanized for breaking into homes in SW Colorado

Wildlife officials have euthanized three bears for breaking into multiple homes over the past three weeks in southwestern Colorado.

Matt Thorpe with Colorado Parks and Wildlife tells The Durango Herald the bears, a sow and her two yearlings, had broken into or tried to break into six homes in a subdivision and were put down Tuesday because they associated people with food.

The bears broke into homes through dog doors and a window, and they pushed their way into garages in the Durango neighborhood. In one case, they could not break into a home but ripped off a screen door.

The bears started causing problems in early May, but by the time CPW was informed, their behavior had escalated and residents were having trouble scaring them away.