The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was able to free a bear after the animal got itself trapped in a car in Lefthand Canyon this week.

The bear — estimated to be between 150 to 200 pounds — was discovered in a car at 2:30 a.m. Monday on Conifer Hill Road, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, which posted a photo on Facebook of the large animal looking out at Deputy Dan Walter as he tried to open the car’s door.

“Our deputies responded to a vehicle trespass with an … (un)usual suspect,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “A bear broke into a car and locked himself in. Car 0. Bear 1. They were able to open the car door and safely let the bear out without anyone, including the bear, being harmed.”

It was not clear how much damage the bear did to the 2007 Subaru Forester.

While the bear was named as a “suspect” in the vehicle trespass, the sheriff’s office has not filed any charges against the animal. Officials did, however, remind people to be bear aware and visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife site for tips.

Bears that get trapped in cars generally are sniffing around for food, officials said.

“Trust us, you don’t want to have to deal with a ‘hangry’ bear,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars