Shoppers and vendors in Aspen, Colorado, were surprised on Saturday when a hungry bear wandered through a farmers' market and helped itself to fresh bread and pastries.
Onlookers reached for their phones to take photos and videos as the bear moved through the stalls in downtown Aspen. It got up on to its hind legs to dig into the baked goods, and at one point jumped up on to a table to get better access to the pastries.
Bear scares away from humans and baked goods
The bear, bulking up for winter hibernation, initially appeared as vendors were setting up their stalls, the Denver Post reported, according to Joey Livingston, a Colorado parks and wildlife (CWI) spokesperson.
Livingston told the paper a police officer took steps to scare the bear away from the humans - and the baked goods - while a CWI officer was on the way. The bear climbed a tree and then later left the area.
Record drought pushes up bear encounters
Bears are particularly active and hungry ahead of hibernation as record drought has reduced food sources, pushing up the numbers of contacts with the public.
