Colorado Bear Dies Trapped in Unlocked Car; CPW Issues Lock Warning

A 250-pound black bear died after becoming trapped inside an unlocked vehicle in Colorado Springs, where it remained undiscovered for days in the summer heat. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is now urging residents to lock their cars and remove food and trash as bear-human conflicts surge. From January 1 through August 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, nearly double the 3,115 reports during the same period last year.

How the bear became trapped

The black bear entered the unlocked vehicle in central Colorado Springs searching for food. Once inside, the animal destroyed the car’s interior but could not figure out how to operate the door handles from inside. The bear died in the sweltering heat and went undiscovered for several days. CPW wildlife officer Travis Sauder explained that bears can pull open unlocked doors but often lack the ability to get out once the door closes behind them. The claustrophobic space causes them to panic and thrash around, which explains the extensive damage found in the vehicle.

Why bear conflicts are spiking this year

Colorado is experiencing a “food failure” year due to low mountain snowpack, wildfires, and drought. These conditions have reduced natural food sources such as berries, fruits, nuts, plants, and grasses that bears rely on. Bears are now in the “hyperphagia” phase, which occurs from August through October, when they spend up to 20 hours a day searching for food to build fat reserves needed to survive winter. As natural foods become harder to find, bears travel farther and take greater risks, bringing them into neighborhoods and developed areas where trash, birdseed, pet food, and other human food sources provide easier meals. CPW wildlife officer Travis Sauder said that from January 1 through August 13, the agency received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, compared to 3,115 during the same period last year and 5,299 for all of 2025.

What residents should do to prevent conflicts

CPW recommends locking all vehicle doors and windows, removing food and trash from inside cars, and securing garbage cans and other attractants around homes. If doors had been locked, it could have greatly increased the bear’s chances of giving up on the car and searching elsewhere for food. Bears that become habituated to human food often have to be killed. A second incident in Manitou Springs on July 29 showed the risks: a bear became trapped in an unlocked vehicle for hours, destroying the interior before the Manitou Springs Fire Department freed it. The bear escaped into Pike National Forest before CPW could relocate it.

Recent bear attacks in the region

On Monday, a man was injured outside an apartment complex in Eagle-Vail when a female black bear swiped at him as he was leaving a laundry room. The bear injured his arm, and he also hurt his foot while trying to flee. A family member took him to a local medical facility where he was treated and released. The incident underscores how dangerous close encounters with bears can be when they are searching for food in populated areas.

Final Thoughts

Lock your car doors and windows, remove all food and trash, and secure garbage cans. With bear conflicts up 97% year-to-date and natural food sources scarce, Colorado residents face elevated risks. The dead bear in Colorado Springs shows that even a brief moment of opportunity can be fatal for wildlife.

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