Hungry bear busts into two cars and a home in search of food — then steals a backpack

Brooke Baitinger
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

A hungry bear in search of food broke into cars, a home, two garages and stole a backpack in Montana, wildlife officials say.

Now officials are looking to trap and kill the bear, and are reminding people — especially those who live in areas with a lot of bears — not to leave out any food items that attract the animal “to keep both bears and humans safe,” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a news release.

One of those areas is Red Lodge, a town located on the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park. There are several “habituated and food-conditioned” bears there, officials said.

The young black bear that stole a backpack in its search for food also approached people, posing a human safety risk, officials said.

“This is unnatural bear behavior and is the direct result of this bear finding human or pet food items and quickly becoming dependent upon them,” officials said.

When that happens, it’s usually irreversible, officials said.

“A bear’s life is dominated by the search for food. Both black and grizzly bears are omnivores, and consume over 200 different species of plants, animals and fungi,” officials said. “Their natural curiosity and quest for food, however, are also what leads to occasional negative bear-human interactions.”

The agency prioritizes human safety over bears, officials said.

“Preventing wildlife conflicts is easier than dealing with one,” officials said. “In urban areas with potentially unlimited opportunities for a bear to find human or pet foods, everyone has a role to play in keeping wildlife wild and out of conflict with humans.”

Montana officials recommended the following guidelines for those who live near areas with dense bear populations:

  • Store garbage in a bear-resistant container or inside until garbage disposal day.

  • Do not leave attractants (such as food) next to windows, on porches or patios, in garages or in cars.

  • Don’t leave out pet food, bird feeders (including hummingbird feeders), bird seed or barbecues.

  • Keep vulnerable livestock — including chickens, goats, and sheep — behind electric fences. It’s a good idea to secure compost piles and fruit-bearing plants with electric fences too. Information about building a suitable electric fence is available on the agency’s website.

  • Once fruit is ripe, make sure to pick it from trees and bushes immediately.

  • Keep doors to both cars and homes closed and locked.

  • Report “unnatural or bold bear behavior” — or bears eating human or pet food — to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks at 406-850-1131 or to the Red Lodge Police Department at 406-446-1234.

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