In a recent incident in Colorado Springs, United States, a black bear got trapped inside a car for several days, causing significant damage to the interior of the vehicle in its attempts to escape, and sadly, the bear was found dead upon discovery.
According to a report from the Denver Post on Thursday, the bear, weighing around 300 pounds, may have been stuck inside the car for several days before being found.
Travis Sauder, a wildlife officer from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), stated to the Denver Post that bears are intelligent and nimble creatures that can open unlocked car doors when searching for food. However, if the car door closes behind them, they can have difficulty finding a way out.
“Usually, they’ll open the door, get in to get the food, and then leave,” he said. “But sometimes if the door shuts behind them, they can have a hard time figuring out how to get out.”
At the time of the incident, the local temperature was around 86 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 30 degrees Celsius), and the temperature inside the sealed car quickly rose to over 130 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 54.4 degrees Celsius), potentially leading to the bear’s demise from heatstroke and dehydration. The interior of the vehicle was also left in a disastrous state.
The sense of smell of a black bear is extremely sensitive, about seven times stronger than that of a bloodhound. CPW pointed out that this year, Colorado is facing severe droughts and late frosts, causing a significant reduction in natural food sources such as wild fruit in the mountains. Bears are forced to take risks by entering towns and communities at the foot of the mountains in search of food.
Adding to this, bears are currently entering their “hyperphagia phase,” where they stock up on body fat for hibernation, leading to frequent incidents of bears entering urban areas for foraging. From January to mid-August 2026 alone, the state recorded 6,129 bear sightings and conflict reports, setting a new historical high since tracking began in 2019.
In the month prior to this incident (July 2026), a similar incident of a black bear being trapped in a car occurred in the nearby Manitou Springs. Luckily, with the assistance of rescue personnel, the bear was successfully saved.
Authorities once again urge the public to manage their vehicles in bear activity areas as they would at campsites, ensuring not to leave food, trash, pet food, or scented items inside the car, and always remember to lock the doors to prevent attracting wildlife and causing tragedies.
CPW also warns against intentionally feeding bears. Once bears become accustomed to human-provided food, they may lose their natural fear of humans, significantly increasing the risk of human-bear conflicts.
To address these situations, Colorado recently passed legislation to lower the threshold for fines imposed on those who intentionally or negligently feed black bears, with offenders facing fines of up to $5,000.