Bear takes a dip in Colorado woman's backyard pool
A bear takes dip Colorado cameras caught on a Steamboat Springs deck: Katie Cole filmed a black bear cooling off in her backyard kiddie pool. Cole keeps the water-filled pool for her dogs and said she was happy the wild visitor could beat the summer heat.
Key Takeaways
- A black bear was caught on camera soaking in a backyard kiddie pool near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
- Homeowner Katie Cole said the pool on her deck is meant for her dogs, but she was happy it helped the bear cool off.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife warned that drought could increase bear sightings this summer.
- CPW logged 98 bear sightings by late April, versus 127 for all of 2025.
The clip, shared by Cole and reported by UPI, shows a black bear beating the summer heat in a backyard kiddie pool. It joins other wild animal encounters in our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.
Where did the bear take a dip in Colorado?
According to UPI, the visit happened in the Steamboat Springs area. Cole had filled a kiddie pool with water and left it on the deck in her backyard. Video from the scene shows the black bear using that small pool to cool down.
Cole shared the footage after the animal's unexpected swim. The pool was sitting on the deck when the bear climbed in to soak.
Why was the kiddie pool out in the first place?
Cole said the pool is there for her dogs. She filled it with water so her pets could cool off at home. When the black bear showed up instead, the moment became an internet-ready summer oddity.
She said she was happy the bear was able to use the pool to escape the heat. UPI published the story on July 17, 2026, after Cole circulated the video.
Are more Colorado bear sightings expected this summer?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife warned earlier in the summer that bear sightings across the state were likely to increase because of drought conditions. The agency's early count already looked high next to last year's total.
CPW recorded 98 bear sightings as of late April. By comparison, the agency logged 127 sightings statewide for all of 2025. Cole's backyard splash is one clear example of how those encounters can look on camera.
What does the video show about the visit?
The footage shows a black bear using ready water in a residential yard. Cole described being glad the animal could cool off from the summer heat.
For readers chasing strange wildlife headlines, the Steamboat Springs dip is simple and vivid: a dog pool, a hot day, and a black bear that found the water first.