15. Three Bears and a Dumpster
One mother bear and her two cubs found themselves in quite the predicament when they accidentally became trapped inside a dumpster on Minnesota’s North Shore. While the mother managed to escape, her two cubs were unable to make it out. Realizing they were in trouble, she was lucky to find help in the most unexpected of places.
14. A Normal Day at Work
It was just a normal day at work for housekeeper, Bara Raa Gregoire who was working her regular shift and taking out the Wednesday morning trash. Approaching the dumpster in the parking lot, Bara didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. However, when she got closer she knew something wasn’t right.
13. Locked and Secured
Arriving at the dumpster everything seemed to check out. The double bars to keep out scavenging bears was securely in place and there were no signs of forced entry. Maybe the uneasy feeling had just been the housekeeper’s imagination?
12. A Hair-Raising Surprise
Needing to continue with her duties, Bara quickly lifted the security bars on the dumpster and flipped open the lid. It was then she saw it. Two eyes staring back at her in the darkness just as she was about to throw in the trash bags. You won’t believe what happens next.
11. Frozen in Fear
The poor housekeeper froze and found herself face-to-face with a black bear. The bear simply sat at the bottom of the industrial-sized dumpster, not really moving and showing no signs of aggression. However, Bara wasn’t going to take any chances.
10. Taking No Chances
Slowly backing away from the dumpster, Bara waited until she was out of the bears sight before she grabbed the trash bags and took off running towards the resort. There was no way she was going to risk making the bear angry. However, what was she supposed to do about getting it out of the dumpster?
9. The Terrified Text
Terrified, the housekeeper immediately texted her boss. “I just went to dumpster and both bars were on it and when I opened it the bear was sitting in the dumpster!! I wonder how that is even possible with it being barred shut?!? I ran off with my trash but didn’t put the bars back on or look to see if the bear jumped out.”
8. The Surprise of a Lifetime
To say resort owner, Steve Surbaugh was surprised would be an understatement. He told Bara to stay put and told her he and the other employees were on the way. Would they make it in time to help poor Bara?
7. The Bear Makes an Escape
As Bara waited for the rest of the staff, the black bear managed to escape the dumpster and climb up a nearby tree that was about two blocks behind the resort’s office building. Bara thought it was strange that the bear had decided to stick around. Is it possible another bear was keeping her from leaving?
6. Bears Were Common…Sort of
According to Steve, Cascade Vacation Rentals in Lutsen, Minnesota has seen its fair share of bears over the years, but this was the first time they experienced an up close and personal encounter. When he arrived, he noticed the bear was still in the area, so he decided to investigate the dumpster.
What he finds is absolutely shocking!
5. The Babies are Discovered
Approaching the dumpster cautiously, Steve looked inside and was shocked! Down among the trash bags were two sweet black bear cubs who were too small to get out. Realizing the bigger bear must be their mother, he knew he would have to figure out a way to get the two little ones out.
Wait until you see the plan Steve cooks up to get these cubs out of the dumpster.
4. Hatching a Plan
Steve recruited a fellow employee, Mike for the task and together crafted a plan to make a ladder that would allow the bear cubs to climb out on their own. However, they would first need materials to make it. Thankfully, Mike had a brilliant idea.
3. Futon to the Rescue
Mike decided to use an old futon as a ladder and together, he and Steve positioned it inside the dumpster. Once it was in place, they moved to the other side of the dumpster and began to bang on it to make some noise. At first the cubs didn’t move and Steve was worried the plan would be a failure, but then something amazing happened.
2. The Babies Escape
One of the little bear cubs made its way up the futon and out of the dumpster. He quickly spotted his mother and ran to her. However, the other cub seemed terrified to move. He continued to move in and out of the dumpster before finally making the daring leap out. The bear would quickly join his mother and sibling up the road before they disappeared into the forest.
However, one question still remained…
1. One Question Remained
Steve made sure to record the entire escape on his phone. Eventually, the three bears ran off into the woods, but one questioned still remained. How in the world did they get inside a securely locked dumpster? We unfortunately may never know!