Black bear locks itself inside Alaska car and destroys interior before police free it An Alaska family says a black bear climbed into their car, became trapped, and shredded the interior before police used a rope to open the door. The family only had liability insurance, so the damage is not covered. An Alaska family says a black bear climbed into their car, became trapped inside, and completely shredded the interior before police arrived to free it. The incident happened in Juneau, Alaska, according to Angela Harkins, who spoke to local outlet KTUU. A neighbor heard the car horn and called police. The bear had torn out the wiring, so the owners could not unlock the doors remotely. The bear was locked inside the vehicle and could not get out on its own.Police Free Bear From CarHarkins described the scene as officers worked to release the animal. She said the bear put its paw on the window at one point before an officer opened the door. The Juneau Police Department used a rope to pull open the door so the bear could get out, she told KTUU. Michael Wilson, the owner of the car, said the bear was desperate to escape.He told KTUU that the animal fought hard to get out of another door. The metal was bent, plastic was torn off, the chairs were torn off, and the back seats were torn apart, he said. Wilson also praised the vehicle's durability. He said he had to hand it to Subaru because they made a good car.The family said the bear had gotten into three cars that night but ended up locking itself inside theirs. They are treating the incident as an insurance lesson. One family member told KTUU that they only had liability coverage and did not have comprehensive insurance, so the damage is not covered. Bear activity is up this year around Juneau, which sits in the Alaska panhandle about 342 kilometres south of Whitehorse.The family told KTUU that more than five metres of snow and a late spring led to fewer berries and fish for the animals to eat. That shortage likely pushed bears to search for food near people. Wilson offered simple advice to others living in bear country. He said people should lock their doors and leave no food, including no candy, inside vehicles.Black bears are found across Canada except for Prince Edward Island, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. The encyclopedia notes that as human populations encroach on black bear habitat, there is increased risk of bears coming into contact with humans. The Canadian Encyclopedia adds that these instances generally occur when regular sources of food are scarce. That prompts black bears to wander in search of substitutes such as garbage.Juneau Bear Damages VehicleIn Juneau, the family's experience shows how quickly a hungry bear can turn a parked car into a trap and cause major damage. A bear found itself locked inside a vehicle in Alaska and managed to completely shred the interior before being freed by police. The episode began when the animal climbed into the car and the doors closed behind it. The bear could not get back out, and its efforts to escape caused extensive damage.The horn sounded at some point, alerting a neighbor. That neighbor called police, setting off a response that drew attention in the local area. By the time officers arrived, the bear had already torn apart much of the inside. The wiring was damaged, which prevented the owners from using remote unlocking.Police had to use a rope to open the door from the outside. Harkins said the bear put its paw on the window at one point before the officer opened the door. The detail captured how close the animal was to the people working to free it. Once the door was pulled open, the bear was able to leave.The family was left with a badly damaged vehicle and a story they will not forget. Wilson said the bear fought hard to get out of the other door. He described bent metal, torn plastic, torn chairs, and a torn-apart back seat. Despite the destruction, he credited Subaru for making a strong car.The family said the bear had entered three cars that night, but only became trapped in theirs. The family said they only had liability insurance and did not have comprehensive coverage. That means the damage is not covered, one family member told KTUU. The experience has become an insurance lesson for them.Insurance Lesson for FamilyIt also highlights the importance of checking what kind of coverage a policy includes before something unexpected happens. Juneau is in the Alaska panhandle, about 342 kilometres south of Whitehorse. Bear activity is up this year around the community. The family told KTUU that more than five metres of snow and a late spring led to less berries and fish for the animals to eat.With natural food sources reduced, bears may look for alternatives. Black bears are found across Canada, except for Prince Edward Island, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. The encyclopedia says that as human populations encroach on black bear habitat, there is increased risk of bears coming into contact with humans. It adds that these instances generally occur when regular sources of food are scarce, prompting black bears to wander in search of substitutes such as garbage.Wilson's advice was direct. He said people should lock their doors and leave no food, no candy, in their vehicles. The family's experience in Juneau shows why that advice matters. A single unlocked door or a lingering smell of food can draw a bear into a car, and once inside, the animal may become trapped and cause severe damage.