Family Hears 'Huffing,' Discovers Huge Bear Under Deck

A Colorado family trying to enjoy their deck last month found that a bear had the same idea.

The family went to sit on the back deck in Pagosa Springs but soon heard loud huffing and moaning underneath their feet, Colorado Parks and Wildlifes Southwest Region division said Tuesday on social media .

The human residents called wildlife officials, who showed up and discovered a very large bear.

Last week, a Pagosa Springs family went out to sit on their back deck and soon heard loud huffing and moaning underneath their feet. Alarmed, they called CPW as they thought it might be a bear or other injured animal. When we showed up, we found a very large bear. pic.twitter.com/MyUYDSkxfK

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Last week, a Pagosa Springs family went out to sit on their back deck and soon heard loud huffing and moaning underneath their feet. Alarmed, they called CPW as they thought it might be a bear or other injured animal. When we showed up, we found a very large bear. pic.twitter.com/MyUYDSkxfK
CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) July 2, 2024

The black bear was a male believed to be older than 10 and estimated to weigh around 400 pounds. (Black bears, like this one, can be brown in color.) Wildlife officers thought the bear was one that had been spotted in the area for several years and had a reputation for getting into non-natural food sources.

They decided to tranquilize and relocate the bear from the neighborhood. However, once it was sedated, moving the massive animal from under the deck for transport proved a challenge that needed the assistance of several bystanders, the agency wrote.

The sedation was successful, but getting the giant out from under the deck and into the bear trap for safe transport proved to be quite a challenge. Officers estimated the 10+ year old boar to be approximately 400 lbs, requiring the assistance of several bystanders. pic.twitter.com/uAPaYjHXTZ

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The sedation was successful, but getting the giant out from under the deck and into the bear trap for safe transport proved to be quite a challenge. Officers estimated the 10+ year old boar to be approximately 400 lbs, requiring the assistance of several bystanders. pic.twitter.com/uAPaYjHXTZ
CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) July 2, 2024

Ultimately, it was transported to an ideal bear habitat with abundant natural foods, the agency added.

A video shows a man unlocking the back of a transport vehicle and then sprinting away before the bear clambers toward freedom.

After the grueling process, the big bear was relocated to ideal bear habitat, far from humans to give it the best chance at success where it will find abundant natural foods.

Watch as District Wildlife Manager Nate Martinez releases it. pic.twitter.com/wmBsMTDmQt

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After the grueling process, the big bear was relocated to ideal bear habitat, far from humans to give it the best chance at success where it will find abundant natural foods.

Watch as District Wildlife Manager Nate Martinez releases it. pic.twitter.com/wmBsMTDmQt
CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) July 2, 2024

One social media user asked whether the bear was under the deck to escape the summer heat or just looking for a nap.

Likely both, Colorado Parks and Wildlife replied . A bit of daytime cover to rest up for nighttime activities.

An estimated 17,000 to 20,000 black bears live in Colorado.

The overwhelming majority of black bears dont want anything to do with people, Scott Murdoch, a district wildlife manager at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told public radio station KUNC last year.

Murdoch said Colorado sees a handful of attacks involving black bears each year, but that most of them tend to be more kind of inquisitive in nature, or even defensive in nature.

The state wildlife agency stresses keeping trash secure and avoiding attractants, like bird feeders, that might lure snack-seeking bears into residential areas.