A bear could be seen jumping out of a parked car and running for its life on a video released by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office on Aug 14.
Deputies responded to a call saying the bear was trapped in a car in South Lake Tahoe. To set free the animal, deputies used a beanbag gun, a nonlethal shotgun, to shatter the back window of the car and provide an exit.
It’s not clear how the bear became stuck in the vehicle, however the sheriff’s office stated, “YES, bears can open car doors.” They reminded the public to never leave food in cars or leave vehicles unlocked, “especially in bear country.”
Another video taken by an Airbnb host from South Lake Tahoe in July showed a bear opening a car door effortlessly and snatching a bag of snacks from the vehicle.
In June, Placer County Sheriff’s Department also found a bear locked in an SUV near Lake Tahoe. Although the bear was set free after an officer smashed the side window, “the inside of the car didn’t fare very well,” said the sheriff’s department.
In addition, bears are often seen roaming the neighborhood and even breaking into houses to find food.
