A family of black bears found themselves in a rather unusual situation in Colorado’s Summit County after climbing into a recycling dumpster and getting stuck.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office shared the incident on social media, explaining that Animal Control officers responded to the bears trapped inside the dumpster. The officers constructed a ramp that allowed the young cubs to climb to safety. The rescue occured during a particularly active period for Colorado’s black bears as the animals prepare for winter and spend increasing amounts of time searching for food.
Cubs Escape After Animal Control Builds Ramp
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the bears entered the recycling dumpster while searching for an easy meal. Once inside, the cubs were unable to escape on their own. Animal Control officers responded and created a ramp inside the dumpster, giving the young bears a way to climb out.
The cubs were able to make their way to safety and continue on after the rescue.
“A family of bears probably thought they hit the jackpot when they crawled into a recycling dumpster! But surprise! They found themselves in a sticky situation.” – Summit County Sheriff’s Office
Colorado Bears Searching For Food
The dumpster rescue highlights the challenges that can occur when bears encounter human sources of food and garbage.
Colorado’s bears enter hyperphagia during late summer and fall, a period when they spend much of their time searching for food and building fat reserves before winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has reported unusually high bear activity across the state this year as drought conditions and other factors have reduced some natural food sources.
As bears become increasingly active, wildlife officials continue to encourage residents and visitors in bear country to secure trash, recycling and other potential food attractants.