Bear dies trapped inside car

A black bear has died after breaking into an unlocked car in Colorado and becoming trapped inside as temperatures soared.

The 250lb animal climbed into the vehicle in central Colorado Springs, where it tore apart the interior before apparently being unable to work out how to escape.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the bear's body was discovered several days later, curled up on the front passenger seat.

Pictures released by the agency show the vehicle's battered interior covered in fur and dirt.

Wildlife Officer Travis Sauder told The Colorado Springs Gazette: “Typically what happens is they pull the door open, get in, get their food, and then they leave.

“But sometimes the door closes behind them, and they have trouble figuring out how to get out.”

Authorities urged drivers to lock their vehicles and remove any food or rubbish that could attract hungry bears.

The warning comes as Colorado records a sharp rise in bear encounters.

Between January 1 and August 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, almost double the 3,115 recorded during the same period last year.

Officials warned that bears can lose their natural fear of humans when they repeatedly find food around homes and vehicles.

Such animals can become “habituated”, potentially making them dangerous and, in some cases, leading to them being killed.

CPW said locking cars and removing temptations can help prevent bears from learning that human property is an easy source of food.

The agency's message was summed up with a simple hashtag: #BeBearWise.