A 300-pound black bear died in Colorado after breaking into a parked car and becoming trapped inside.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the bear entered an unlocked vehicle in central Colorado Springs, destroyed the interior and became stuck. The animal died inside the car and went undiscovered for days in the heat. CPW estimates the bear weighed 300 pounds and was likely drawn in by a scent or attractant left inside.
CPW says the bear entered an unlocked vehicle, destroyed the interior and became stuck. Credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
The incident comes during a year of unusually high bear activity across Colorado. The agency reports that drought conditions have reduced natural food sources and pushed bears farther into neighborhoods, campgrounds and recreation areas. From Jan. 1 through Aug. 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts. That number is nearly double the 3,115 reports recorded during the same period in 2025.
CPW says bears enter unlocked vehicles when attracted by food or scented items and once inside, they can cause significant damage while trying to escape. In some cases, bears become trapped and die.
Wildlife managers say incidents like these are preventable if residents and visitors keep vehicles locked, windows fully closed and free of trash, food, and scented items. Credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Wildlife managers say incidents like these are preventable if residents and visitors keep vehicles locked, windows fully closed and free of trash, food, and scented items. They warn that once a bear succeeds in getting food from a vehicle, it will return to the area and repeat the behavior, increasing risks for both people and wildlife.