OH NO SMOKEY! FORAGING BEAR BREAKS INTO HOME, STARTS FIRE, SHOT DEAD BY COPS

UPDATE

A foraging bear - oblivious to its cousin Smokey's safety advice - smashed into a home in Mount Crested Butte early Wednesday, unknowingly flipped on a stove and started a fire.
The occupants were startled awake as the bear ripped apart the pantry in search of food and scratched at their bedroom door, according to the Crested Butte Fire Protection District said.

Town marshals euthanized the bear as "its behavior became increasingly erratic and aggressive as the smoke detector activated," officials said.

The marshals also extinguished the flames.

No human injuries were reported - and the fire was contained to the kitchen. The mountain town of 900 is located in Gunnison County. Drought has diminished bears' natural food supply leading to a record number of sightings in residential areas this year across Colorado. They typically mean no harm but are not as cautious as Smokey. Smokey Bear is the mascot of the U.S. Forest Service - and promotes fire safety.

[Photo: Wikipedia]