Wildlife Officials Warn Drivers After Bear Dies in Unlocked Car
A 250-pound black bear died after being trapped inside an unlocked car in Colorado Springs for days, destroying the vehicle's interior trying to escape.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the bear had entered the unlocked car and destroyed the vehicle, then died inside. The bear was not found for days in the heat in central Colorado Springs. Wildlife officers shared photos of the gutted interior on social media Monday as a warning to residents — and the images are striking. The inside of the car looks like something tore through it with intention, which is exactly what happened.
Bears are smart and dexterous enough to open an unlocked car door — but if the door closes while they're inside, they often lack the ability to get out again. The claustrophobic space can cause them to panic and thrash around inside the vehicle, which likely explains the extensive damage, according to CPW wildlife officer Travis Sauder.
The bear was trapped in summer heat and didn't survive. On Monday, August 17, Colorado Springs recorded a high of 86°F. Days inside a closed car in those temperatures would be fatal for a person. A panicking 250-pound bear didn't stand a chance.
This Isn't the First Time This Summer
On July 29, a black bear got into an unlocked vehicle in Manitou Springs and was trapped for hours, trying to fight its way out and ripping up the inside of the vehicle in the process. The Manitou Springs Fire Department freed the bear and tried to hold it for relocation by Parks and Wildlife, but the animal escaped into nearby Pike National Forest.
Two bear-in-car incidents in the same region within three weeks is not a coincidence. It's a trend.
Why Bears Are Showing Up Everywhere This Year
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has received more than 6,000 reports of bear sightings so far this year, which is roughly double the same period last year. Wildlife officials say recent drought conditions have reduced natural food sources in parts of Colorado, pushing bears out of the mountains and into communities in search of food.
When the berries, acorns, and insects that make up a bear's natural diet are scarce, they follow their noses into neighborhoods. A black bear's sense of smell can easily be measured in miles, according to the National Park Service. "The area inside a black bear's nose, called the nasal mucosa, is 100 times greater than ours."
That nose will find food in a car. A fast food bag, a granola bar in the glove compartment, a soda in the cupholder. Even sunscreen and scented wipes can attract them. If the door is unlocked, the bear can and will open it.
What You Need to Do
The fix is simple but only works if people actually do it. Lock your car doors. Keep your windows closed. Don't leave food, trash, pet food, or scented products inside your vehicle — especially overnight.
Wildlife officers are urging community members to lock their vehicles, keep their windows closed and refrain from leaving trash or food inside their vehicle. According to Parks and Wildlife, more conflicts between people and bears can be traced to attractants including human food, pet food and garbage.
A bear that dies trapped in a hot car is a preventable death. So is the car that gets completely destroyed in the process — and so is the dangerous encounter that would have happened had someone found a panicking bear inside their vehicle while still alive. Locking your car is the single action that prevents all of it.
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