Source : Perth Now news
A fire station had an unexpected visitor when a bear wandered into the building, grabbed a bag of firefighting gear and casually made its escape.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department shared security camera footage of the brazen bruin visiting Station 16, appearing to stroll into the bay before making off with the equipment.
In a social media post, the department joked: “Smokey the Bear (or who we assume is Smokey) walked into the bay at Station 16, grabbed our gear bag, peaced out real quick, and said ‘thanks, I’ll take it from here.’”
It was not immediately clear whether firefighters managed to recover their stolen gear.
The department’s light-hearted post came with a more serious warning from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, as black bears prepare to bulk up for winter.
Officials urged residents to remove potential food sources from around their homes, including bird feeders and pet food, while keeping rubbish securely stored.
They also advised people to keep grills clean and only put rubbish outside on collection day.
The department said: “In all seriousness, our friends at Colorado Parks and Wildlife remind us that Black Bears are a ‘stomach with a nose’ trying to bulk up for winter.
“-Keep food and trash secured
“-Take down bird feeders
“-Keep pet food inside
“-Keep grills clean
“-Put out trash on pick-up day only”
They also offered some advice for anyone who finds themselves face to face with one of the animals.
The department added: “If you encounter a bear, make loud noises to scare them off to make any encounter with humans uncomfortable for them. Depending on human food sources is unsafe and puts bears and people at risk.”
The cheeky raid is far from the first time bears have caused trouble in Colorado, where black bears are known to wander into areas populated by humans while searching for food.
As temperatures fall and the animals build up their fat reserves, experts warn that unsecured food can encourage them to return.
