I remain obsessed - obsessed - with the antics of wild bears. Living as I do in a country where they don't even exist and where I could only ever see them in a zoo, I can't believe the sheer nerve of the beasts when they're on their own wild turf.
It seems to me they roam cheekily free in the US, taking all sorts of liberties. From playing catch with someone's puppy, intercepting trail runners, and just plain breaking and entering, to taking dips in people's hot tubs - basically, it seems to me that if they think they can get away with it, they'll give it a go. And last week's bear-based shenanigans were no exception to this rule.
Mary Jane Yarbrough is an art teacher based at Warner Robins High School in Georgia and last week she was visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee in order to take an art workshop. One day, partway through her stay, she was awoken in the early morning by a commotion from her car, which she had parked overnight on an incline and which, when she investigated, was "honking and shaking". Her first thought was that a person had broken into the vehicle.
On closer investigation, though, it became obvious that a curious bear had opened the car door, climbed inside to see what it could find (snacks? A tin of travel sweets? An air freshener?), and then become trapped when the door swung shut again.
It was six in the morning and I just keep hearing honking happening. I open the door. My dog is going crazy and I see that it’s my car that is honking and shaking and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, someone is in there. Someone is stuck in my car. - Mary Jane Yarbrough
The bear smacked the window when Ms Yarbrough approached her car. Sensibly, she elected not to open the car door herself, but called the police to help. By the time officers managed to get the bear out of the car, it had absolutely trashed the interior, pulling out the airbag, radio, and glove box contents (although it did not eat the gum or protein bar which were in the car).
Her car was wrecked, but at least Ms Yarbrough is safe (although wildlife officials were keen to point out that black bears rarely attack people in these circumstances). Gatlinburg officers reminded locals on social media that car doors should be locked and no food should be left in cars, lest any other pesky bears get the same idea as this one.
No fear. Looking at the damage one bear caused to that car, I definitely wouldn't be leaving any sandwiches in mine.