Yesterday, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office announced a gruesome discovery on the Grand Mesa, a large flat-topped mountain in Colorado: A bear and other wildlife had been scavenging on human remains. An investigation is now underway to identify the deceased and determine the cause of death.
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“On July 5, 2026, investigators with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of potential human remains found near the Wild Rose Picnic Area off of Lands End Road on the Grand Mesa in Mesa County, Colorado. Investigators confirmed the remains were human, prompting a death investigation,” wrote the Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post. “At the time of the discovery, the remains were found to have been scavenged and scattered.”
Although officials are not making any guesses about the cause of death, they did share several tips for staying bear safe while recreating in bear country this summer.
See the full post about the human remains scavenged by a bear below.
This situation is still developing, and details may change.
Header stock image by aire images/Getty Images
