ASPEN, Colo. -- Thanks to a late freeze and drought that damaged berries and acorns, bears rummaging for food among people kept wildlife officers busy, especially in west-central Colorado, where a total of 24 bears were killed and 52 were relocated.

Statewide, an estimated 46 bears were killed after run-ins with people. State Division of Wildlife spokesman Tyler Baskfield said a definite number won't be known until all the district managers' reports are completed.

The latest bear death was reported Thursday morning when DOW was called to an incident involving a black bear at a home on East Sopris Creek Road in Old Snowmass. A homeowner entering his garage to feed his dogs was charged and clawed by a bear inside the garage. The man suffered minor injuries but was able to retreat back inside the home and dial 911.

Pitkin County Sheriff's deputies and DOW District Wildlife Manager Kevin Wright dispatched to the home shortly after 7 a.m. Upon arrival, the bear remained in the garage despite having the opportunity to flee into the surrounding woods. The bear behaved aggressively toward the officers and the bear was shot and killed.

The bear was an adult male bear weighing approximately 350 pounds. The bear's teeth were well-worn and indicated that the bear was older. DOW officials believe the bear entered the garage through a door that was left slightly open to allow the homeowner's dogs to enter the garage from the yard.

Bears that have been relocated and return to rummage through garbage again are euthanized under the state's two strikes policy.

Although calls about bears are still coming in, wildlife officers in the Aspen area and the rest of the Roaring Fork Valley haven't had to kill or relocate many bears over the past two weeks.

Bears were especially troublesome in the Aspen area during the summer. Some were killed after invading homes and other buildings. Several were seen digging through Dumpsters for food.

But Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton said the agency's efforts to get people to close their doors and windows to keep bears at bay and lock up garbage seemed to start paying off.

In August, Pitkin County, which includes Aspen, approved an ordinance increasing fines to as much as $1,000 for leaving trash bins open and not using bear-resistant containers.

"Overall, it was a very busy and very tough bear year for our folks," Hampton said.

Drought that shriveled berries also aggravated people-bear conflicts in other western states, including Nevada and California, as bears searched for food. Wildlife officials say another issue is that more people are moving farther into bear habitat.

Hampton said female bears and cubs are heading to their dens for hibernation, but male bears typically don't settle in for winter until mid-November so people should still be vigilant.