A bear’s trash day took an unexpected turn.
A Colorado black bear turned heads after it was spotted riding atop a garbage truck following an accidental trip through the trash collection process.
The unusual scene unfolded in Castle Rock, where the bear had apparently climbed inside a trash container in search of food before it was emptied into the back of a waste management truck.
Video captured by resident Evan Elmore shows the bear standing on top of the truck after climbing out. Elmore told CBS Colorado the animal eventually made its way down the side of the vehicle before workers scared it away from the area.
The encounter comes as Colorado bears enter hyperphagia, a period of intense feeding before winter hibernation. With drought conditions and a late frost reducing natural food sources, more bears are venturing into neighborhoods in search of an easy meal.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, bear activity has surged statewide this year. The agency says drought-related food shortages have pushed bears farther into neighborhoods, campgrounds and recreation areas. From Jan. 1 through Aug. 13, CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, nearly double the 3,115 reports logged during the same period in 2025.
While seeing a bear hitch a ride on a garbage truck may have provided some comic relief, wildlife officials say unsecured trash remains one of the biggest attractants for hungry bears. Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges residents to secure garbage, pet food and other potential food sources to help protect both people and wildlife.
From cars to office buildings to backyards, bear encounters are making headlines across the U.S. Here’s what’s driving the surge.
