A black bear destroyed the interior of a pickup truck parked on a Roberts Creek property after becoming trapped inside the vehicle overnight Monday, Dec. 3
“He just ripped the whole of the inside apart,” Marlene Road resident Clinton Casley said.
Sunshine Coast RCMP said the trapped bear caused significant damage to the 2010 Ford F-150, tearing out the door and ceiling panels, ripping apart the seats and chewing up large sections of the dash.
RCMP were called to the scene Tuesday morning after Casley and his wife discovered the bear inside the pickup truck.
“He wasn’t happy,” Casley said. “It was a little intimidating.”
Police stood a safe distance away from the vehicle and used a rope to pull the door open, letting the bear out, RCMP Const. Karen Whitby said in a release.
The bear immediately fled the property.
Casley, who estimated the bear weighed about 400 pounds, said there was no garbage or food in the vehicle to attract the bear’s interest, “other than a peanut butter cup wrapper, and that’s all.”
Casley said he has since heard of other Roberts Creek residents having similar visits and believes his vehicle was the sixth one entered by a bear during about the last two weeks. He believes it’s likely the same bear.
“It’s been in six vehicles … and that’s a little alarming.”
He said he has contacted a conservation officer and was expecting a bear trap to be set on his property as early as Wednesday.
He expects the damage will be covered under his comprehensive insurance.
RCMP advise residents to ensure their vehicles are locked at all times.
“I generally don’t lock my doors but now I’ll be locking my doors,” Casley said.
