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Bear rides over 60 miles through California hidden in back of bin lorry

The driver said he felt his vehicle moving from side to side but had no idea why until his colleagues ran away

Lizzie Dearden
Wednesday 23 December 2015 19:54 EST
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Fresno Police photographed the bear and assured the public that it was unharmed and no one was injured
Fresno Police photographed the bear and assured the public that it was unharmed and no one was injured (Fresno Police)

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A bear has ridden for more than 60 miles in the back of a bin lorry in California after sneaking in to rummage for leftover food.

The bear, known locally as Cinnamon, was only discovered when it climbed out at a rubbish tip, sending workers running to safety.

Police alerted locals that he was on the loose with on Twitter, later sharing a photo of the tranquilised animal in the back of a van.

“Bear detained. All good, no injuries. Cinnamon back to his home in Hume Lake,” a tweet said, accompanied by a smiley face.

Officials said Cinnamon lives at the lake, in Sequoia National Forest, and was probably picked up in a rubbish compactor either while rifling through leftovers or after falling asleep.

The driver, who gave his name as KC, told KC24 television he watched footage of the bear filmed by stunned drivers as it ran along a nearby road.

“About halfway down the mountains my truck is going from side to side and I'm thinking it's the road, not knowing I have a bear in my compactor,” he said.

“When I dumped the container I saw all of the employees running. Still knowing, I pulled forward about ten feet and I saw Cinnamon running across the parking lot…I was like, this is not real.”

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