Bear breaks into car for candy — and leaves behind poop and destruction, CO photos show
A bear smelled something sweet inside a car and helped itself to the treat, Colorado wildlife officials said.
The car didn’t fare too well, according to photos Colorado Parks and Wildlife posted Nov. 20 showing the extensive damage.
“Look at what a bear can do to a car when they’re hungry and smell food left inside,” officials said in the post.
Every surface of the car’s interior is torn to shreds, and to make matters worse, the bear pooped all over the car’s backseat, photos show. A video also shows a wildlife officer opening the passenger side door and scaring the bear out and away from the car.
It happened just before Halloween on Oct. 15 in Littleton, a suburb about 10 miles south of Denver.
“Is that second picture bear poo?” someone asked in the comments.
“Oh yes, it’s not fun,” officials replied.
Officials encouraged viewers to guess which kind of candy was forgotten in the car and vote between Kit Kat, Snickers, 100 Grand, and Peanut M&Ms in the comments. A bright red candy wrapper that appears to have been torn open is visible in the front seat.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published November 20, 2023 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Bear breaks into car for candy — and leaves behind poop and destruction, CO photos show."
