A wild scene unfolded in Juneau, Alaska, when a curious black bear found its way into a family’s Subaru, causing significant havoc before getting trapped inside.
According to reports, shortly after midnight, the bear managed to enter the unlocked vehicle. The car’s owner, Michael Wilson, described the experience as a “Goldilocks situation,” but, well, with the bear stuck in the last car.
It turns out the bear had also gotten into a couple of other vehicles that night. A neighbor, hearing the car’s horn blaring, alerted the authorities after spotting the bear inside the Subaru.
Police woke Wilson to retrieve his key, but by then, the bear had already dramatically disassembled part of the car’s interior, making it impossible to unlock the doors normally.
“He was really trying hard to escape from the other door,” Wilson mentioned to a local news outlet.
Using a rope, officers managed to pry the door open, and, in a tense moment, the bear even placed a paw on the window before the door was finally opened, as noted by witness Angela Harkins.
After about five to ten minutes of struggle, the bear finally escaped without any injury. But Wilson’s Subaru didn’t fare as well.
“The metal’s bent, all that plastic’s torn off, the seats are ripped apart,” he lamented.
Adding to his woes, Wilson mentioned that his family only had liability insurance, which means they won’t be covered for the damages.
Despite the unfortunate situation, he somehow managed to maintain a sense of humor, joking about the car’s durability: “So I have to give Subaru credit. It’s a tough car. The bear couldn’t get out.”
This bear incident comes amid heightened bear activity in Juneau, likely due to the heavy snowfall this season and a surprisingly late spring, resulting in a scarcity of natural food sources like berries and fish.
“Lock your doors,” Wilson advised others. “Don’t leave any food, no candy in the car.”
“Seriously, just don’t put any candy in there and be sure to lock your doors.”
