A New Mexico bear hitched a ride on top of a garbage truck, traveling at least 5 miles on the vehicle before it was able to make its escape up a tree.
Santa Fe National Forest spokeswoman Julie Anne Overton says the driver was picking up a dumpster last week when he heard a squeal then realized the bear was on top of the truck. It rode atop the vehicle to a site where the Forest Service keeps a firefighting helicopter.
Helicopter mechanic Evan Welsch, who snapped photos of the bear, said about 30 Forest Service and National Park workers had gathered around to see the spectacle when it was suggested that the driver back up near a tree to give the animal an escape route.
The bear clamored for the tree and stayed up there about an hour or two before scurrying down and running off.
Evan Welsch via AP)
(Evan Welsch via AP)
(Evan Welsch via AP)
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Bear probably looking for food!
Dangerous and terrible,
Small and “funny”
Obama would look good riding on top of that garbage truck.
Obama should have rode on the garbage truck to celebrate his birthday today!!!!
The pictures of the brown bear riding on top of a garbage truck are funny to look at, but also dangerous. The brown bear on the top of the garbage truck
belongs in the wild away from people. Encroachment on their evironment with building homes, and the forest fires that happen will bring them closer to people, and people leaving food and food sources for them to come around all play a factor.
Happens all the time here, even in areas far away from the forests. It’s actually a black bear, we call them cinnamon bears when their fur is light like this one.
Had one on the prison ground housing that had to be tranquilized. We caught him in a blanket when he fell from the tree.