A black bear that was trapped in a Colorado storm drain was freed after local officials unlocked an access cover, allowing the animal to run away, wildlife officials said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southeast Region said the male bear was rescued from a storm drain in the Ivywild neighborhood of Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 10. Colorado Springs Public Works personnel brought a key, and wildlife officials opened the cover before retreating to a safe distance to capture video of the bear emerging.
The video shows the bear popping his head up through a hole where a manhole cover had been removed. After cautiously looking around for a moment, the bear climbs out of the storm drain.
Wildlife officials said the bear promptly climbed a nearby tree, where he would likely stay until nightfall.
“Bears typically stay in trees until darkness when they feel safe to leave,” the agency said.
As for how the bear became trapped there, officials said it likely accessed the pipe system from an open drainage area and became lost.
“This storm drain is connected to a series of pipes that open into a drainage area,” the agency said. “The bear likely accessed the pipe for shade, following it to the location we rescued it from.”
