Black bear found dead after becoming trapped in unlocked Colorado car

A black bear weighing between 250 and 300 pounds was found dead inside an unlocked vehicle in Colorado Springs after becoming trapped for several days. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the animal entered the car to search for food, destroyed the interior while attempting to escape, and ultimately died due to the summer heat.

Wildlife officer Travis Sauder noted that while bears are dexterous enough to open unlocked doors, they often struggle to exit if a door closes behind them. This incident occurs during a period of significantly increased bear activity in Colorado. Between January 1 and August 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, nearly double the 3,115 reports recorded during the same period last year.

Officials attribute the rise in encounters to poor natural food conditions caused by low snowpack and late freezes, which force bears to take greater risks to find calories. CPW is urging residents to be ‘BeBearWise’ by locking vehicle doors and windows and removing all food and trash from cars to prevent habituation.