For the second time this summer, Coquitlam RCMP officers have freed a trapped bear.
But not before the bear managed to wreak destruction trying to free itself.
On Thursday, July 11, officers responded to a call in Belcarra that a bear had managed to get into an old Toyota Yaris that had been left unlocked.
According to a post on X, officers broke a window in the car to set the bear free.
🐻🚙Today, officers were called to rescue a black bear locked inside a car. After a door was accidently left unlocked, the bear wreaked havoc on the interior. Officers broke a window to set the bear free.
— Coquitlam RCMP (@cqrcmp) July 11, 2024
Let’s all be “bear smart” to help prevent these 🐾 wild encounters. pic.twitter.com/4OoQOyEOef
But what it left behind barely resembled a car. The front dash was completely torn apart, leaving behind exposed insulation, wires and fuse boxes. Plastic panels were ripped from the metal doors and the seats and centre console were also damaged.
In June, officers also freed a bear that had become trapped in the rafters of a garage and was chewing and clawing apart siding. They ended up opening a side door to let it out.
On its website, RCMP said bear calls typically spike between May and September, when they’re out and about foraging for food.
Usually, bear encounters are harmless.
“In most cases, the bears are simply observed going about their bear business,” said the website. “It is normal for bears to roam through urban areas, especially as development encroaches on wild space.”
RCMP said all bear sightings should be reported to the Conservation Officer Service (COS) so they can be tracked.
But if a bear is seen to be posting an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1 so police can respond.
Bear smart guidelines to reduce the chances of attracting bears include:
- storing garbage and green carts as well as recycling bins in an location that’s inaccessible to wildlife
- freeze meat and strong smelling food scraps before putting them in your green cart on collection day
- put food waste in the green cart and not the garbage cart and don’t put them out until after 5:30 a.m. on collection day
- keep your green and garbage carts clean between collection days
- store refrigerators and freezers inside
- keep pet food inside
- pick fruit trees as soon as the fruit ripens
- suspend bird feeders and clean up any spilled seed
- keep barbecues clean
