Wildlife officials in the Rocky Mountain region are reporting a rise in conflicts between black bears and humans this summer, which they link to a severe drought. The dry conditions have reduced the availability of natural food sources such as nuts, berries, and plants that black bears normally eat. As a result, the bears are traveling farther from their usual habitats in search of food. In Gold Hill, Colorado, a black bear entered a Toyota SUV and became trapped inside, where it repeatedly honked the car's horn while trying to escape. The car was damaged beyond repair, according to Patrick Sullivan, who was nearby at the time. Sullivan's brother-in-law eventually freed the bear, which then ran back into the woods. Millions of people live in or near bear habitat across the Rockies, and the drought has pushed the animals to roam into new areas. Colorado officials report that there have been twice as many bear sightings and conflicts with humans this year compared to the average, including in regions where bears are not typically found. Wildlife managers in New Mexico and Utah report that record numbers of hungry bears have lost their natural fear of human areas, leading them to raid homes, cars, and campgrounds. In central Denver, a black bear was recently tranquilized and relocated from a tree, while another had to be caught and released during the fall semester move-in at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. In Utah, authorities moved four bears from the town of Moab, where they had been feeding in orchards. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife data, unsecured trash bins are the biggest attractant for bears in populated areas this year. Many bears that enter human areas are tranquilized and relocated, but if they start associating food with people, they may be euthanized. Wildlife officials emphasize the mantra "A fed bear is a dead bear" and urge people to secure any food that might attract bears. While black bears typically avoid humans and are less dangerous than grizzly bears, they can still be aggressive. In June, a black bear followed and attacked a hiker in Golden, Colorado. Colorado has had at least four more attacks this year, including one near Vail and another in the mountains southwest of Denver, where a young bear was later tracked down and killed. In Utah, over three dozen bears have been killed this year, more than the past three years combined, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In New Mexico, the number of bears killed by wildlife officials and authorized property owners has already reached 187, the highest since 2011. Scientists attribute the extreme drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which spans parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, to human-caused global warming. Record wildfires have also destroyed large areas of bear habitat, exacerbating the situation. Not all bear-related incidents have sad endings. Some are heartwarming, like the successful release of orphaned cubs after time in a rescue facility, where they learned to live independently without raiding human areas. Travis Sauder, a state wildlife officer in southeastern Colorado, mentioned that rescuing bear cubs from trees is a common task, sometimes requiring him to stand on shaky ladders to retrieve a sleeping cub. In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Andy Kerrigan found a cub that had gotten into his truck through a window. He eventually chased it away with a piece of wood trim after it had found his lunch in the seat. In Gold Hill, Sullivan's brother-in-law solved the bear-in-Toyota problem by tugging a rope tied to a door handle. The bear bolted for the woods through the open door. Sullivan said the bear was waiting for someone to help it, and he was glad they could do that.