Overview
- The encounter occurred on June 23 when handyman Andy Kerrigan opened his pickup and found a young black bear in the front passenger seat eating his lunch.
- Homeowners Justin Pickar and Meg Warder captured the episode on a garage security camera and shared a one-minute video that has circulated widely online.
- Kerrigan first photographed the cub, then banged on the truck and used a 2x4 to make noise and prod the animal out; the bear eventually fled and no official report of a capture or follow-up was released.
- Accounts differ about the bear’s condition: Kerrigan said he saw blood on interior surfaces and suspected an injury, while some reports said neither he nor the bear appeared hurt.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife estimates 17,000 to 20,000 black bears in the state and warns that accessible food and unsecured attractants drive most conflicts, a point that locals say calls for tighter trash and vehicle food practices.