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SOUTHERN COLORADO -- The number of bear sightings in Colorado are up, and so are the number of bear deaths.

According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, more than 70 bears have been killed in southern Colorado since January. Of those, 18 were killed in El Paso and Teller counties, and 17 were killed in Fremont and Chaffee counties.

But the biggest number of bear fatalities were in south Pueblo, Custer, Las Animas and Huerfano counties.

Parks & Wildlife said the numbers are some of the highest they have seen in almost a decade, and it is likely due to weather.

"It goes back to last spring and the drought," Michael Seraphin, Colorado Parks & Wildlife Southeast Region Public Information Officer, said. "There have been a lot more calls in to our offices in southern Colorado because of the dry conditions."

Seraphin said the recent drought is forcing bears into urban and rural areas because they are searching for any sign of food.

"Berries are in shorter supply than they would have been if we got ample moisture," he said. "When their natural forage is in short supply, then they move towards areas of human habitation looking for something to eat."

In many southern Colorado counties, bears often find homes with livestock. When bears kill livestock, it leaves wildlife officials with only one option of how to handle the bears.

"Once a bear finds that he can do that and get fed that way," Seraphin said, "it just continues to keep doing it. Those are deperdating bears, and they don't get another strike. They're pretty much put down."

Parks & Wildlife has a "Two Strike" policy when dealing with bothersome bears. If a bear is causing trouble in an urban area, it is usually ear tagged and relocated. However, if the bear needs to be handled again, Seraphin said that is strike two and the animal will be put down.

"Just moving the animal doesn't solve any problem," he said. "It just moves the problem."

With little relief to the drought in sight, it is likely bears will be spotted in neighborhoods. That could potentially lead to more bear fatalities.

"It is suffice to say that there have been many more bears moved than that have had to be put down," Seraphin said. "And many more bears where nothing has been done because they're not at that level of being a dangerous bear."

Seraphin also said many bear sightings also serve as an opportunity to teach people about bears.

The number of bear fatalities also includes a few that were killed by vehicles and landowners.

Above are some photos of bears seen in southern Colorado this year, submitted by local residents.