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Colorado bear dies trapped in unlocked car
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Environment & Climate

Colorado bear dies trapped in unlocked car

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 140-kilogram bear likely became trapped in an unlocked car in Colorado Springs for several days and died from overheating.
  • Wildlife officials explain that bears can open car doors but sometimes struggle to escape once inside.
  • Authorities urge the public to avoid leaving food or scented items in vehicles, especially in bear-prone areas, to prevent such incidents.

A large black bear died in Colorado Springs after becoming trapped inside an unlocked car, likely for several days. The approximately 140-kilogram animal is suspected to have succumbed to heat exhaustion within the vehicle. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer Travis Sauder explained that while bears are intelligent enough to open car doors when seeking food, they can sometimes become trapped.

"Usually, they open the door, get into the car, take the food, and leave. Only sometimes the door closes, and the bears can no longer get out," Sauder told reporters. He noted that bears have been particularly active in Colorado this year, driven by increasing difficulty in finding natural food sources.

Wildlife officials emphasized that such tragedies are preventable. They reiterated long-standing advice for people living near bear habitats: do not leave food, trash, or other scented items accessible in vehicles or outdoors. Bears possess an exceptional sense of smell, far superior to that of bloodhounds, making them easily attracted to human-related odors. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of securing vehicles and properly storing attractants in bear country.

Usually, they open the door, get into the car, take the food, and leave. Only sometimes the door closes, and the bears can no longer get out

โ€” Travis SauderColorado Parks and Wildlife officer, explaining how bears can become trapped in vehicles.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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