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Bear in search of snack wreaks havoc on truck after getting stuck inside, video shows

Screenshot from Colorado Parks and Wildlife video on Twitter

Another spring day in Colorado, another bear trapped in a car — especially if there’s food inside.

It’s simple math, officials with Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a June 5 post on Twitter.

“Dog food + unlocked truck = bear trapped in your truck,” officials said in the post.

Officials shared a video of a wildlife officer freeing a bear that found its way inside a pickup truck in Evergreen to get a taste of dog food that had been left inside, but it couldn’t find its way back out. A black trash can is turned over on its side right next to the truck.

“Got a bear that got into a trash can last night and then opened an unlocked vehicle and went inside to get dog food inside,” the officer says in the video. “So…we’re gonna let him out.”

The officer puts the phone’s camera up against the window to show the damage to the interior before moving to the front seat. The bear’s long snout appears behind the glass.

“There’s our bear,” the officer says before he yanks on the door handles. “Who, uh, has the doors locked.”

After someone unlocks the truck, the officer pulls the door open to free the bear, which shuffles out with a scuffle.

“Get out of here!” the wildlife officer shouts toward the bear to scare it off. “Git! Git!”

The bear runs off but pauses to look toward the house, almost curiously. So the officer yells again until it makes it to the woods’ edge.

“Go on, bear!” he says.

Officials encouraged viewers to watch the video with the sound turned up to hear how the officer scares the bear from the area.

“Good lesson to bring in food from your vehicles!” officials said. “Bears can smell it and learn how to open doors.”

Bears are clever, and once they’ve learned that food is sometimes left in cars, they’re likely to keep coming back to try, McClatchy News previously reported.

“That bear is definitely ready for a food coma nap,” someone commented. “See ya tomorrow.”

Evergreen is about 20 miles southwest of Denver.

To prevent attracting bears to your car or home, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials recommend:

  • Keep garbage secured and only put it out the morning it gets picked up.

  • Clean garbage cans regularly (with ammonia if you can) to cut down on odors that attract bears.

  • Keep garage doors closed, and don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.

  • Use bear-resistant trash cans or dumpsters.

  • Avoid bird feeders between April 15 to Nov. 15. You can naturally attract birds with flowers and water baths instead.

  • Don’t let bears get comfortable around your home. You should haze them if you spot one, by yelling, making noise and throwing things at it to scare it off.

  • Secure compost piles, as bears are attracted to the smell of rotting food.

  • Clean grills after every use, and clean up well after cookouts.

  • Don’t allow fruit to rot on the ground around fruit trees.

  • Lock doors when you’re away from home and overnight.

  • Keep bottom-floor windows closed when you’re not at home.

To bear-proof your car:

  • Don’t keep food in your car, and roll up windows and lock car doors.

  • Lock car doors when car-camping and secure food and coolers inside.

  • Clean up your campsite, whether you’re camping at a campground or in the backcountry.

  • If you’re camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet away (or more) from the campsite. Don’t bring food into your tent.

  • Cook far from your campsite and wash dishes thoroughly.

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