Bear breaks into car to eat protein bars
This is the second time in a week a bear has broken into a car on the North Shore for food
A hungry bear broke into a parked car to munch on some protein bars, North Vancouver RCMP said Wednesday.
The break-in happened sometime in the early morning hours, police say, while the vehicle was parked in front of a residence on Panorama Drive in Deep Cove.
Police say the owners woke up to discover their car was a mess.
The bear had apparently broken the windows, dented the door as it tried to pry them open and ripped apart the inside.
"The unknown bear left numerous paw prints, claw marks and fur. There was evidence that it had consumed a box of protein bars that had been left in the vehicle," police said.
This is the second time this past week a bear on the North Shore has trashed a car to get at food.
West Vancouver police estimate a bear did up to $10,000 worth of damage to to another car on Sunday to get to food left in it by its owner.
"The message to not leave any food items at all in your vehicle is one worth repeating," said North Vancouver RCMP Cpl. Richard De Jong.
"Bears have a very keen sense of smell and incredible strength enabling them to cause the damage they do."
Bear sightings in North Vancouver residential areas can be reported directly to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.