Black bear found dead after spending days trying to escape locked car

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Key points

• The roughly 300-pound bear was probable trapped inside the car for days before it was discovered in Colorado Springs, The Denver Gazette noted.
• This year is on pace to produce the highest number of documented bear-human interactions since CPW began digitally tracking them in 2019, according to The Gazette.
• "Treat your vehicle the way you would a campsite by removing any attractants, " Sauder informed The Gazette.
• CPW received 6, 129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts between Jan.
• A black bear in Colorado spent days trapped inside a vehicle, tried to escape and destroyed the car's interior in the process before being discovered dead.

Meanwhile, a black bear in Colorado spent days trapped inside a vehicle, tried to escape and destroyed the car's interior in the process before being discovered dead.

Meanwhile, the roughly 300-pound bear was probable trapped inside the car for days before it was discovered in Colorado Springs, The Denver Gazette noted.

For context, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) wildlife Officer Travis Sauder informed The Gazette bears are smart and dexterous enough to open unlocked car doors while searching for food, but can struggle to escape if a door closes behind them.

"Typically what happens is they pull the door open, get in, get their food and then they leave, " he remarked. "But sometimes the door closes behind them, and they have trouble figuring out how to get out."

In practice, the deadly encounter comes as Colorado experiences an unusually active year for bear sightings and conflicts.

CPW received 6, 129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts between Jan. 1 and Aug. 13, almost double the 3, 115 recorded during the same period last year, according to The Gazette. The number has already surpassed the 5, 299 reports recorded during all of 2025.

Wildlife authorities have linked the rise in encounters to poor natural food conditions. Low snowpack and late freezes have reduced some of the food sources bears typically rely on, pushing the animals to travel farther and take greater risks in search of calories, Sauder informed the newspaper.

In practice, the timing adds to the concern as bears enter hyperphagia, the period when they consume sizeable amounts of food and water to build fat reserves ahead of winter.

CPW advises individuals living in bear country to eliminate potential food sources and other attractants that can bring bears close to homes, campsites and vehicles.

Food, trash and scented items can draw bears searching for an straightforward meal. CPW advises keeping vehicles clean and removing anything that could attract a bear, including food and other scented products.

"Treat your vehicle the way you would a campsite by removing any attractants, " Sauder informed The Gazette. "Whether it's pet food, a kid's snack or even flavored bubble gum, get it out of your vehicle." CPW additionally warns against intentionally feeding bears. Start your day with all you need to know. Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Bears that become accustomed to food provided by individuals can lose their natural fear of humans, increasing the risk of conflicts.

CPW did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

For now, black bear found dead after spending days trying to escape locked car remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.