A black bear in Colorado Springs died after becoming trapped inside an unlocked vehicle for several days, according to a report from The Denver Gazette. The roughly 300-pound animal is believed to have destroyed the car's interior in its attempts to escape.
Wildlife officers noted that black bears are capable of opening unlocked car doors in search of food, but can struggle to exit if a door closes behind them. "Typically what happens is they pull the door open, get in, get their food, and then they leave," said Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) wildlife officer Travis Sauder. "But sometimes the door closes behind them, and they have trouble figuring out how to get out."
This incident occurs amid an unusually active year for bear sightings and conflicts in Colorado. Between January 1 and August 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, nearly double the 3,115 recorded during the same period last year. This number has already surpassed the 5,299 reports from all of 2022.
Officials attribute the rise in encounters to diminished natural food sources. Low snowpack and late freezes have reduced the availability of food that bears typically rely on, prompting them to travel farther and take more risks in their search for calories. This increased activity is particularly concerning as bears enter hyperphagia, a period of intense eating to build fat reserves for winter.
CPW advises residents in bear country to remove potential attractants from their vehicles, treating them similarly to campsites. This includes removing food, trash, and any scented items like pet food, snacks, or even flavored gum. Intentionally feeding bears is also discouraged, as it can lead to bears losing their natural fear of humans and increase the likelihood of conflicts.
This year is on track to record the highest number of reported bear-human interactions since CPW began digitally tracking them in 2019.