A video recorded on June 14 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado shows a cinnamon-colored bear dangling from a second-story window. Having entered through a partially open first-floor window, the bear is seen clinging to the sill by its claws. It considers the roof below and then hauls itself back through the window in a feat of strength that would impress anyone who has ever tried to do a pull-up on a small ledge. The animal repeats the move several times as it attempts to find a safe way down, before abandoning that option and going back into the house. The neighbor who filmed the video says the bear later headed back downstairs and took the easy way out.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife were notified, and later confirmed that the yearling had already broken into at least three homes. Sadly, the young bear had to be euthanized after it was captured by wildlife officials.
Are Bear Break-Ins Common?
While a bear hanging from a second-story window is an unusual sight, bear break-ins themselves are unfortunately not uncommon . In 2021, a bear broke into a California home and scarfed down a bucket of KFC, while in 2017 a bear broke into another Colorado home and played the piano. The communities around Lake Tahoe, California are also frequently featured in the news for their rampant bear break-ins, including those by a black bear weighing 500 pounds, affectionately known as Hank the Tank. In 2022, Hank was set to be captured and euthanized after allegedly breaking into dozens of Lake Tahoe homes. Luckily, for Hank's sake, he was exonerated after it was discovered that he was not responsible for all of the home invasions. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife suspected that at least three bears were roaming the area, barging into homes.
As we saw in this situation, not every bear makes it out alive. In May, another bear was euthanized after breaking into a Connecticut home. Her two yearlings were also nearby, though the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said that the yearlings were old enough to survive on their own.
A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear
Biologists and wildlife organizations have long warned that "a fed bear is a dead bear". While the addition of teeth and claw marks to the second-story windowsill of the Steamboat Springs home will likely make for a good story to tell any future house guests, it's important to remember that bears are wild animals that should not be interacting with humans. Bears are often drawn to houses and cars by food in the form of unsecured trash, dirty grills, or bird seed. The Steamboat Springs bear was likely drawn to the house because of a food-related scent and found easy access inside through the open window. Studies have shown that bears lose their fear of people after obtaining human food and garbage, which endangers both the bear and the people living nearby. Often, these habituated bears must be relocated or euthanized. If you live in an area with a bear population, keep the bears and yourself safe by securing any food or trash, and keeping your doors and windows closed when you leave a house or vehicle.
