If you think you've heard it all...

Follow this tale of a hungry black bear who went for a ride ... in Douglas County - Colorado



Sheriff's deputies early Thursday got a call about a honking car and a commotion inside. Perhaps it was teenagers or a thief, they thought as they approached Zaky's Toyota Corolla.

It turns out it was a thief, albeit the furry variety.

The deputies' first clue to something unusual was that the car was 175 feet below its normal parking spot in the driveway of the Zaky's home, which sits on five acres.

Imagine their further surprise when they turned on their flashlights and got a peek inside...  

It was a full-grown black bear, also known as ursus americanus.

The deputies had earlier received a call from a neighbor. She had heard honking and came up to the Zaky home, where the family was asleep. She noticed the car was rocking back and both and she   deputies shortly after 4 a.m., according to spokeswoman Michelle Rademacher of the Sheriff's Department in the community 45 miles south of Denver.

Zaky said the bear was probably drawn to a peanut butter sandwich left inside by his 16 year old son Andy. He said the family didn't realize what was going on until deputies arrived and the neighbor came back and   them. By then the car was no longer in the driveway.

Incredulous, Zaky, his wife and three teen children -- who have lived in Larkspur for 17 years -- rushed outside to see the red Toyota down the hill and near a tree.

Somehow, the bear had either opened the unlocked back door or pushed a window down to get inside. Understandably agitated, it bumped into the horn repeatedly and eventually knocked the car's gear into neutral. The Toyota rolled down the hill. The door added to the bear's indignity by closing at some point during the ordeal.

A sergeant and two deputies who arrived on the scene "were stymied on how to proceed," Zaky said.

They considered a tranquilizer or   the bear, whose gender is unknown. "Safety is our primary concern," Rademacher said.

Finally, the officers decided the best outcome for all would be to keep everyone safe and let the bear live to see more adventures.

After taking pictures, one of them tied a long rope to a door handle and pulled. After a few moments, Zaky said, the bear bounded out around 5 a.m., at least two hours after it had gotten inside.

It left a foul-smelling "present" on the front seat.

The Toyota was trashed, with its air bags, seats and stereo torn to shreds. It's a total loss.

Andy told a reporter he was scared when the family rushed outside to see the car was gone.

"My dad is going to   me. My car is gone. I didn't lock it. He said it was stolen."

Rademacher said deputies have enough experience not to be shocked during a day's work. But this will make for a great memory.

Zaky admitted the incident was pretty comical. He's glad the animal got away and no one was hurt.

"There's a bear in the car. Who are you gonna get mad at?"

So travelers what do you think? Any other scary stories.....

If you like this story, don't miss an even more scary one, about an alligator who carried a massive Deer across the lake....http://TravelMagma.com/usa-travel-forum/the-aligator/