Black bear caught on camera taking bag from Colorado fire station

A black bear was recorded on surveillance footage entering a firehouse in Colorado and taking a duffle bag filled with equipment. The incident occurred at Station 16, where the bear was seen grabbing the bag and leaving the premises. The Colorado Springs Fire Department shared the video on Facebook, humorously referencing the bear as 'Smokey the Bear.' They also noted that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has indicated that black bears are actively seeking food to prepare for winter. Reports of bear sightings and conflicts in Colorado have nearly doubled this year, with CPW receiving 6,129 reports from January 1 to August 13, compared to the same period last year. The fire department advised residents to secure food and trash, remove bird feeders, store pet food indoors, keep grills clean, and only take out trash on collection days to prevent bear encounters. They also recommended making loud noises to deter bears if encountered, emphasizing that relying on human food sources is unsafe for both bears and people.