Police say two black bears were found in the front seats of an SUV after caller reported horn blaring
KETCHIKAN, Alaska - Two black bears turned into unlikely joyriders early Wednesday morning after climbing into a parked SUV in Ketchikan , honking the horn and locking themselves inside until police arrived.
Ketchikan Police Chief Eric Mattson said officers were dispatched around 5 a.m. Wednesday after a caller reported persistent honking from a vehicle. When officer Luke Burkhalter arrived, he found two bears seated in the front seats “like they were going for a joy ride.” “And had they not been honking that horn, I think they’d have been stuck in there quite a bit longer,” Mattson said. Body camera footage released by the department shows the bears inside the SUV before the rear hatch was opened remotely, allowing them to run off. No one was hurt. Police said the bears caused “quite a bit of damage” inside the vehicle, though the owner will ultimately decide if it’s repairable.The incident prompted apost from the department, reminding residents to lock their doors, avoid leaving food in vehicles and report unusual activity. “Had the doors been locked, they would have gone to the next place,” Mattson said, adding that bears are opportunistic and will try door handles if they smell food. Though unusual, it wasn’t the first call of the summer involving bears inside vehicles in the area. Police said similar incidents have occurred both in and outside city limits. The department emphasized that no wildlife was harmed and that the bears were safely released from the SUV.
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