JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — In what Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are calling a “highly unusual accident,” a male bear cub died overnight after a dumpster tipped over, crushing his neck. The accident was likely caused by the bear cub’s mother climbing into the dumpster when it toppled over, her weight ultimately killing her cub, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials told the Denver Post.
The 30-pound bear cub was found with its head and front paws sticking out from beneath the side of the dumpster. The accident was reported to the Colorado State Patrol early this morning, the Denver Post reported. While wildlife officers said they’re not exactly sure how the dumpster tipped over, it was likely caused by the sow climbing in or out of the dumpster.
CPW officials said in a tweet the accident shows one of the many troubles when it comes to bears and human trash.
“Not only is human trash a major attractant that leads to the habituation of bears and increases human-bear conflicts, it is also deadly to our bears in many ways,” CPW said in a tweet. “Dumpsters should always be secured so a bear can’t get inside and placed on solid, flat ground where it does not present a danger to people or wildlife.”