250-pound black bear dies after becoming trapped in Colorado car
Wildlife officials say bears can open unlocked doors and urge residents to remove food and other scented items from vehicles.
The bear was spotted in the storm drain in Colorado Springs on July 10. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southeast Region were assisted by the city’s Public Works department who brought a key to open the storm drain’s cover, allowing the bear to escape to the trees.
A 250-pound black bear died after becoming trapped in a vehicle in central Colorado Springs, according to official reports.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shared images of the damaged vehicle in a social media post on Monday. The bear had entered the unlocked car and destroyed its interior before it died from the heat. The animal wasn’t found until a few days later.
On Monday, Aug. 17, Colorado Springs recorded a high of 86°F and a low of 53°F, with an average temperature of about 72°F, based on observations at Colorado Springs Airport.
A 250-pound black bear died after becoming trapped in a vehicle in central Colorado Springs. (Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
CPW urged residents to keep their windows and doors closed and to dispose of trash and food to avoid similar incidents.
“Closing the windows and locking doors keeps bears out,” the agency wrote on X. “They are able to open unlocked doors.”
This is not the first case of a bear becoming trapped in a car in Colorado. A similar incident occurred at the end of July in Manitou Springs, when police attempted to remove a bear that was trapped inside a vehicle. No one was injured, but the car sustained damage from the bear trying to free itself, the Manitou Springs Police Department reported in a Facebook post.
“Bears are strong and unpredictable, especially when food is involved or when they feel trapped and threatened,” the police department wrote.
The vehicle sustained significant damage as the trapped bear attempted to free itself. (Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
CPW explained that most human conflicts with bears are linked to trash, human food, bird seed and other attractants. When bears find food left out by humans, they become less cautious of people and can become a threat to safety and property. Bears that become habituated often must be killed.
Bears have a sense of smell estimated to be more than 2,100 times stronger than a human’s, the Manitou Springs Police Department added. This makes it necessary to remove all food, beverages, wrappers or other scented items from vehicles to avoid attracting bears.
The 250-pound black bear was undiscovered for days after becoming trapped inside a vehicle in Colorado Springs. (Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
From Jan. 1 through Aug. 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear conflicts and sightings, according to a news release shared last week. This year is on track to have the highest number of reports since the agency implemented its statewide digital reporting system in 2019.
The increase in sightings and encounters coincides with “hyperphagia,” a phase in which black bears spend up to 20 hours a day hunting for food in preparation for winter hibernation. CPW noted that finding food has been challenging due to wildfires and drought reducing availability, which explains why bears may venture to neighborhoods and areas where food is easier to obtain.
“CPW is reminding the public that a difficult natural food year is not a reason to feed bears,” officials said. “Providing food — intentionally or by negligently leaving attractants unsecured — can make a dangerous situation worse.”
A new Colorado law took effect on Aug. 12, which strengthens the penalties for knowingly leaving out waste or food that can attract bears. House Bill 26-1342 changed the state of luring a bear from “intentionally” to “knowingly,” meaning someone does not have to deliberately try to lure a bear to be cited. Officers can now also issue a violation for first-time offenders, rather than being required to give them a warning. The fine for a third or subsequent offense increased from $2,000 to $5,000.
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