A Ucluelet black bear became trapped inside a vehicle on Friday morning and obliterated the interior before being freed.

Local senior Katharine Fleming told the Westerly News she had gone outside to get her dogs含羞草研究社� leashes and come back into her home when she heard a car horn honking in her driveway. She said her friend suspected someone was trying to break into her vehicle, but when she looked, she realized something much stranger was happening.

含羞草研究社淭he car started rocking, I mean really rocking, and I said, 含羞草研究社楾hat含羞草研究社檚 not a human in there, a human can含羞草研究社檛 do that含羞草研究社� and we realized it was a bear,含羞草研究社� Fleming said. 含羞草研究社淚t was absolutely terrifying and I knew he was desperate to get out.含羞草研究社�

She added that the car含羞草研究社檚 doors were closed but unlocked and it含羞草研究社檚 unclear how the bear got in as there was no damage to the exterior, but the door had closed behind it, trapping it inside.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 smart. He has figured out how to get in, how to open the door,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭he door was closed and he managed to retract the latch and pull the door open and, when you see the door, there含羞草研究社檚 no marks.含羞草研究社�

Sgt. Kevin Smith of the Ucluelet RCMP confirmed that a police officer responded to the scene and managed to get the bear out.

含羞草研究社淗e looped a rope around the door handle so that he could stand a safe distance away while pulling the rope to open the door,含羞草研究社� Smith told the Westerly. 含羞草研究社淭he bear exited the van and went on its way.含羞草研究社�

Fleming suggested the bear scampered off in a hurry.

含羞草研究社淗e took off,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淗e didn含羞草研究社檛 want to be here any more than we wanted him to be here.含羞草研究社�

She added that there 含羞草研究社渨asn含羞草研究社檛 a single solitary speck of food in our van含羞草研究社� and suspects the bear had likely found food in other vehicles and started thinking of them as food sources.

The situation is now being investigated by the BC Conservation Officer Service and Fleming fears the bear will likely be killed after showing such heavy signs of habituation.

She hopes the incident serves as a strong reminder to both residents and visitors that they must always keep their attractions secured and never feed wildlife.

含羞草研究社淭he thing that is the most important about all of this is that people, tourists and locals, have to be bear aware,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚f we含羞草研究社檙e going to live on the West Coast or visit the West Coast, we have to be aware that this is called the Wild West Coast for a reason. Animals have their rights here and we need to stop encroaching on them or encouraging them just to get that great picture or that great video because we含羞草研究社檙e killing off the very thing that people want to see when they come here.含羞草研究社�

She added that along with raising her anxiety, the incident has also brought a financial hit as the vehicle was not insured due to confusion with her insurance provider.

含羞草研究社淩eally, it含羞草研究社檚 a comedy of errors and we含羞草研究社檙e left with a car that is dismantled inside and no insurance,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 screwed financially, but more important than that, a bear is going to lose his life.含羞草研究社�

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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