Bear Cub Leads Hunters to Find Missing Colorado Man’s Remains

The remains of a man missing from Colorado for over a year have been found, possibly thanks to a bear cub, according to officials. Pablo Araya Rojas was reported missing in October 2025 from Avon, Colorado.

A hunter found Rojas’s remains on October 23 on Bocco Mountain, close to Wolcott, which is about 20 miles from Vail. A statement from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this discovery. The hunter was adjusting his rifle when he noticed the remains, according to a department representative.

Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found a bear cub nearby. The cub’s reluctance to leave led deputies to call Colorado Parks and Wildlife for help. Officials noted the absence of the cub’s mother, and the cub did not return during the following days of the investigation. Investigators suspect the cub played a part in uncovering Pablo Araya Rojas’s remains.

Other law enforcement agencies, including Vail Mountain Search and Rescue, joined the site. They used cadaver dogs for assistance in identifying the remains. Rojas was last seen on October 21, 2025, near U.S. Highway 131 and Ute Creek.

Authorities in Avon revealed that at the time of his disappearance, Rojas’s phone was active in Edwards, seven miles from Wolcott. His car and mini e-bike were left at his apartment.

The Eagle County Coroner’s Office is working to determine both the cause and manner of Rojas’s death. Officials have reached out to his next of kin and assured that there is no threat to the community. The investigation continues as authorities follow all available leads.