BY JESSICA THOMSON ON 6/24/22 AT 7:54 AM EDT01:07

Crafty Bear Opens Car Door For Inspection

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TECH & SCIENCEBEARSTENNESSEEHEAT WAVEBLACK BEAR

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Ablack bear that got stuck in a hot car in Sevierville, Tennessee, has died from heatstroke, wildlife officials say.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) said the bear entered the parked car outside a rental cabin, using its teeth or paws to open the door. The door then shut behind it, leaving the bear stuck inside the vehicle.

With temperatures outside being nearly 95 degrees that day, the TWRA estimates that the vehicle’s interior could have reached over 140 degrees. The owner of the car came back at around 6:45 p.m. local time and discovered the bear had died.

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Tennessee is currently in the clutches of a heatwave. Temperatures in Sevierville are currently hovering around the 90 degree mark and are expected to climb over the next 10 days.

Bears and other furry mammals cannot sweat like humans do, so they are less able to regulate their body temperature when it gets too hot, eventually leading to organ failure and death.

Wildlife officials say that the bear was likely looking for food in the car when it got trapped.

“Notice the empty soda can and food package on the floorboard,” the TWRA wrote in a Facebook post. “Bears have noses seven times better than a bloodhound and can smell even the faintest odor of food inside a vehicle. Lock your doors, roll up your windows, and never leave food or anything that smells like food inside!”

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Even things that you might not think would attract a bear can lead them to investigate.

“Empty food containers, candy wrappers, fast food bags, and even air fresheners can attract bears. Please be #BearWise and help us keep bears wild and alive,” the TWRA said.