AP reports the bear, who climbed on top of the truck, rode for at least 5 miles.
Advertisement
A trash collector emptying a dumpster on the property of Los Alamos National Labs in New Mexico inadvertently dumped a black bear into the back of his truck and then drove off.
After alerting the driver to its presence, the puzzled bear eased its way on top of the green garbage truck like a true champion.
Santa Fe National Forest spokeswoman Julie Anne Overto said the driver only realised the bear was up there when he heard squeals.
The noise alerted the driver to the fact a bear was hitching a ride.
His incredibly clear footage of Hungry Bear captured its lovely toasted sienna-colored fur, as well as the bear’s graceful exit from the top of the truck to a nearby tree after the driver backed the truck up a bit to the tree trunk.
Helicopter mechanic Evan Welsch quickly snapped pictures of the bear while around 30 national park staff gathered around to see the animal.
“This clever fellow must have thought he had hit the jackpot – not just a garbage can but an entire garbage truck”, according to a post on the Santa Fe National Forest’s Facebook page.
Advertisement
The bear clamoured for the tree and stayed up there for about an hour or two before scurrying down and running off.
