Bear Trapped in Car: A Sad Reminder to Lock Your Doors in Bear Country

What Happened in Colorado Springs?

Imagine this: a big, hungry black bear—about as heavy as three grown men (300 pounds!)—smells something yummy inside a parked car. The car doors aren’t locked. The bear climbs in, has a feast, but then can’t figure out how to get out.

Tragically, that’s exactly what happened recently in central Colorado Springs. The bear destroyed the car’s interior trying to escape, but got stuck. Because the car sat in the hot sun for days before anyone found it, the bear didn’t survive.

Important Callout: This Was Preventable
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says this sad ending didn’t have to happen. Simple steps—like locking your car doors and not leaving food inside—can save both bears and your vehicle.

Why Are Bears Breaking Into Cars More Often?

The Big Problem: Drought = Hungry Bears

Colorado is having a drought (that means not enough rain for a long time). Because of this:

• Natural bear food (like berries, nuts, and plants) didn’t grow well
• Bears are desperate for calories before winter hibernation
• They’re wandering into neighborhoods, campgrounds, and parking lots looking for easy meals

The Numbers Don’t Lie

That’s nearly DOUBLE the bear encounters in just one year!

How Does a Bear Get Stuck in a Car?

It sounds crazy, but here’s the step-by-step:

1. Bear smells food (or toothpaste, gum, air freshener, trash—anything scented!)
2. Finds unlocked door or cracks window open
3. Climbs inside and makes a mess eating
4. Panics when full or hears noise outside
5. Can’t open door handles (bears don’t have thumbs!)
6. Destroys seats, dashboard, wiring trying to claw through windows or doors
7. Overheats and dies if not found quickly

Bear Fact: A bear’s nose is 100 times better than a human’s. They can smell a candy wrapper from miles away.

5 Simple Steps to Bear-Proof Your Vehicle

Follow these every single time you park in bear country:

1. Lock ALL doors — even if you’re just running into a store for 2 minutes
2. Roll windows UP completely — even a tiny crack is an invitation
3. Remove EVERYTHING scented — food, drinks, trash, gum, toothpaste, lotion, air fresheners, pet food, empty coolers
4. Clean up crumbs & spills — vacuum seats and floor mats regularly
5. Never store food in your car overnight — use bear lockers or bear-proof containers at campgrounds

Why This Matters: The "Repeat Customer" Problem

Here’s the scary part wildlife experts want you to know:

Once a bear gets food from a car, it learns: "Cars = Easy Meals."

That bear will:

• Return to that same parking lot again and again
• Teach its cubs to do the same
• Get bolder and more destructive
• Eventually have to be euthanized (put down) for public safety

One unlocked car today = A dead bear tomorrow.

Summary

• A 300-lb black bear died after getting trapped in an unlocked car in Colorado Springs
• Drought has caused record-high bear activity — nearly double last year’s reports
• Bears enter cars attracted by smells (food, trash, toiletries)
• They can’t open doors and often die trying to escape
• 100% preventable by locking doors, closing windows, and removing all attractants
• Bad habits spread — one successful break-in creates a "repeat offender" bear

FAQ: Your Bear-Car Questions Answered

"I only left a granola bar wrapper. Is that really enough to attract a bear?"

Yes! Bears can smell tiny food traces from far away. Even empty wrappers, drink cups, or fast-food bags smell like a snack to them.

"My car was locked, but the bear broke the window. What should I do?"

If a bear is actively breaking in: Get to safety, call 911 or CPW immediately. Do not approach. If the bear is already inside: Stay away, keep others back, call authorities. Never try to "shoo" a bear out yourself.

"Are certain cars more bear-proof than others?"

No car is bear-proof if unlocked. But some tips help:

• Hard-top vehicles are safer than convertibles/soft-tops
• Remove roof racks with cargo boxes (they smell like adventure = food)
• Use bear-proof coolers inside a locked trunk if you must transport food

"What counts as a ‘scented item’ besides food?"

Lots of things! Toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm, sunscreen, bug spray, pet treats, bird seed, scented wipes, air fresheners, even some cleaning products. Rule of thumb: If you can smell it, a bear can smell it way better.

"I’m just visiting Colorado. Do these rules apply to tourists too?"

Absolutely. Bears don’t check IDs. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor, every parked car in bear country needs to be locked and clean. Rental cars included!

Final Thought

Lock it. Clean it. Leave it bear-free.

It takes 10 seconds to lock your car and toss that coffee cup. It saves a bear’s life, protects your vehicle, and keeps your community safer. Be the reason a bear stays wild — not the reason it gets into trouble.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports and public statements, August 2026.