We’ll try to avoid making any puns here, but we make no promises. Late last month, a bear in New Mexico caught a ride on a garbage truck, traveling at least five miles while awkwardly perched on the roof of the vehicle like a furry Christmas tree atop Clark Griswold’s station wagon.
According to Santa Fe National Forest spokesperson Julie Anne Overton, the garbage truck’s driver first noticed the ursine hitchhiker when he heard squealing from atop the vehicle while picking up a dumpster. The bear continued to cling to the top of the truck all the way to a nearby location where the forest service keeps a helicopter for firefighting operations; the driver then backed the truck up to a nearby tree, giving the bear an escape route—which it quickly took, the Associated Press reports. The bear reportedly stayed in the tree for several hours before descending and making a break for it, presumably to meet its short, bow-tied accomplice.
According to various news accounts, around 30 national park workers and forest service employees gathered around the truck to see the bear before it clambered off the vehicle and into the tree. One of these workers is believed to be the one to offer the suggestion to move the garbage truck and give the animal a chance to escape.
If you want to see it for yourself—and let’s face it, you do, or else you wouldn’t have clicked this link—check out the video below. Be warned, however: The footage is so cute, you may not be able to bear it.
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We’ll see ourselves out.
