Bears are crafty.  They are smart and know how to get food if they are given even a little bit of opportunity.

A recent post by CPE NE Region on Twitter revealed that there have a been several houses in Estes Park, CO broken into by bears with most break-ins being through windows that were only cracked (see examples below).  They added that lever door handles (pictured below) are also being used to enter houses, so it is advised to lock those doors if you’re in bear country–they are not to be underestimated or messed with.

Bears are extremely smart & are not to be underestimated. Most times in Estes when a bear gets into a house, they go straight to the refrigerator or pantry. This is a dangerous & learned behavior. It is entirely preventable by all of us that live in or visit bear country.

For more information on being bear aware, click here.