An unusual break-in attempt has left a West Vancouver man’s car utterly bruin-ed.
The red 2009 Mazda 3 was parked outside a home on Craigmohr Rd. Wednesday night when it caught the eye of a wandering black bear.
The car was found the next day covered in claw marks and dents, with the side mirrors ripped off and both the driver and passenger doors bent away from the frame.
“It was even dented on top,” owner Tim Von Dette told CTV News. “I noticed there was a bear hair at the rear left door, so he left us a clue.”
Von Dette said there was no food in the car, and he can’t imagine why the animal spent so much energy trying to scratch its way in.
“There might have been some bread crumbs in the back of the car, but that would have been in the trunk,” he said. “Maybe he was attracted by the berry colour.”
While the bear’s motivation remains a mystery, West Vancouver police are using the incident as a reminder about being cautious with attractants.
Even small food wrappers or damp car seats can give off enough scent to attract a bear.
Conservation officer Jack Trudgian said he’s never seen a black bear do so much damage to a vehicle, but it may be learned behaviour.
“Black bears are very intelligent animals. It’s most likely that bear has somehow got into a car, whether through a window or through a door, and he’s been rewarded,” Trudgian said.
“So now, every time he sees a car he’s thinking there’s some kind of food source in there.”
Police urge residents who live in areas frequented by bears, such as the North Shore, to always clean wrappers and food out of their cars at night.
Conservation officers say there is no cause to destroy the animal yet, but will be monitoring bear activity in the area.
Von Dette said ICBC towed his car Friday and has provided a temporary replacement, but the ordeal will still cost him.
“Unfortunately there’s a deductible, so the bear has served us a bill,” he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Shannon Paterson
