It seems like an easily solvable situation. All people have to do is lock their car doors.
But apparently that act is too strenuous for a number of individuals in Estes Park, Colorado, as a bear — or a gang of bears — broke into eight vehicles over the weekend in search of food.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife department reported that there were paw prints on the handles of numerous other cars as well, but those cars were locked and bears haven’t figured out how to use “Slim Jims” yet (a tool to unlock cars — not the beef jerky).
“Unfortunately for the bear, it did receive some food rewards which only encourages this sort of unnatural and unsustainable behavior,” Officer Frank Rylands said.
He also said the owners of the cars were “extremely fortunate” the bear(s) didn’t destroy the cars.
One hungry bear in Tennessee ripped apart a car earlier this year after it locked itself inside of the vehicle.
The owner of the car, watched in disbelief as the black bear demolished the vehicle as it tried to find a way out.
“It was like that scene in Tommy Boy where the elk woke up and thoroughly trashed the vehicle,” Officer Duke Snyder told a local TV station. “Except this car wasn’t drivable after the bear got done with it.”
“Every time I think about it, I start humming ‘Eres Tu,” the officer said, noting the song Chris Farley and David Spade sang while driving the vehicle during the movie.
Regardless, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department is urging all car owners to start locking their doors.
“Make it a routine to lock all your windows and doors for both your vehicle and home. This is for your safety and for the lives of these amazing and resourceful creatures,” Rylands said.
Noted Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich said this shouldn’t surprise anyone as bears are “very intelligent animals.”
“A couple summers ago, I witnessed a bear using a car’s remote control to open the hatch of a vehicle,” Ulrich said. “People need to quit being idiots and remember to lock their doors and not keep their keys out.”
