Watch: Bear Opens Car Door, Scares Tourists

by
posted on June 14, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

As most hunters know, a bear's paw isn't built all that differently than a human hand—at least from a bone structure standpoint. This means, as you might imagine, that bruins are capable of using their paws to perform a number of very human-like tasks—such as opening doors. Every so often, you hear about one of the nosy little buggers walking right through unlocked doors. They seem to have even more success with vehicle doors, which one family recently learned the hard way. In a video posted to YouTube last week (and embedded above), a curious black bear opens the passenger door of a car—with a family of tourists still very much inside.

Fortunately, despite the shrieks, no one was hurt. I'd worry that some of the passengers may need a change of pants, though.

The video offers few details as to where and when the incident occurred, though some sources are saying that it was filmed in Yellowstone. The enormous National Park has been in the news a fair bit of late, most recently because of a similar video, which showed a woman being charged by a cow elk after getting too close while trying to take a selfie. With luck, this most recent video will show the uninitiated that no, bears won't be thwarted by car doors.

I've embedded the video above. I'd encourage you to give it a look. Friendly recommendation: turn down the volume before clicking play.

Latest

Ledemesh Seat
Ledemesh Seat

First Look: Summit Treestands Mesh Seat and Seat Back Organizer in Bottomland

Summit Treestands has announced two additions to its lineup designed to enhance comfort, organization and concealment for hunters: the Mesh Seat and the Seat Back Organizer available now in Mossy Oak Original Bottomland.

A Deep Dive into Late-Season Divers

When he was 12 the author shot a limit of ring-necks when he was hunting for wigeon. It wasn’t the last time divers turned a slow day of duck hunting into a memorable one. The season might be over, but take a step back into the very end of the season with Scott Haugen, as he takes on some divers.

New for 2026: Knight & Hale Deer Call Lineup

Knight & Hale Game Calls, has launched its latest line of deer calls, a collection which includes the EZ-Grunter, EZ-Grunter Xtreme, Death Chamber and Ultimate Rattle Bag. Read on for a detailed description of each.

#SundayGunday: Taurus Raging Hunter 350 Legend

On this week's #SundayGunday, we're taking a look at a capable hunting revolver that’s chambered in a caliber you’re more likely to see in a rifle: the 350 Legend. That’s right, Taurus has released their large-frame Raging Hunter in the whitetail-thumping 350 Legend cartridge. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.

Recipe: Deep-Rooted Venison Stew

Several friends and I often circle back to the same campfire debate about which wild game makes the best stew. Mule deer usually leads the pack, with moose close behind, but any well-handled game meat can stand out when you build the right layers of flavor. The real magic starts long before the broth simmers. It comes from the vegetables and mushrooms you choose.

61-Year-Old Elk-Hunting Dream Fulfilled in Michigan

Michigan elk hunters faced challenging weather and storm-ravaged terrain to harvest 153 elk in 2025. That didn’t deter Bruce Nelson of Hastings, Mich. He applied for an elk license every year Michigan has held a drawing.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.