“He wasn’t thrilled about the situation either.”
Late last month, in the early hours, Larimer County sheriff’s deputies in Colorado got a surprising call: a resident reported that their car had been broken into — by a very unusual intruder.
A bear had somehow opened the unlocked vehicle, climbed inside, and shut the door behind him.
“The furry bandit was still trapped in there,” the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office reported, adding that the bear “wasn’t thrilled about the situation either.”
Deputies quickly responded, soon joined by several colleagues. Together, they devised a plan to safely release the bear, affectionately nicknamed “Yogi.”
Body camera footage captured the amusing rescue as officers carefully freed the bear without resorting to bear spray.
Although Yogi was safely returned to the wild, he didn’t leave the scene without leaving his mark. “It’ll buff out,” one deputy joked about the damage inside the car.
The vehicle’s owner noted that while there was no food inside, items with strong scents — like lotions, air fresheners, or chewing gum — can be just as tempting to hungry bears.
Experts from BearWise urge residents and visitors in bear country to make a habit of clearing out vehicles, locking doors, and rolling up windows, even if only parked briefly.
Yogi may not have learned his lesson, but hopefully, his adventure serves as a reminder to everyone else.