A hungry bear with a hankering for German food has made repeat visits to a Colorado Springs restaurant, where security cameras have caught the bruin Dumpster-diving.

During a Wednesday morning visit to the back door of the Edelweiss Restaurant, 34. E. Ramona Ave., the bear pushed the garbage bin about 50 feet into the parking lot, flipped the container over and opened the lid to eat food tossed the night before.

The Edelweiss signature dish is rouladen — top round steak pounded and rolled, stuffed with bacon, mustard, onions and pickle; covered in a dark gravy and accompanied by red cabbage and fried potatoes.

“There’s some fresh, really good food” attracting the bear, Edelweiss manager Dieter Schnakenberg. “She passes up the recycling bin and goes right for the good stuff.”

Schnakenberg estimates the bear to be over 6 feet tall when it stands on its hind legs. The staff has been warned to be careful as they go to and from the bins.

The bear enjoyed the meal so much that it showed up again early Thursday. The bear has also been tipping and scouring other garbage bins in the mostly residential neighborhood.

The restaurant is about two miles south of downtown Colorado Springs, and the bear is likely following Cheyenne Creek into the neighborhood, Schnakenberg said.

“We’re going to have to do something” to stop the bear visits, Schnakenberg said.

The restaurant staff is considering using chains to anchor the bins to a nearby fence. Using a locking lid could be another option to thwart the repeat offender.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife division has contacted the Edelweiss, spokesman Randy Hampton said. “The best case scenario is they secure the Dumpster and the bear doesn’t come back.”

If the bear keeps returning, wildlife officers will get involved and the bear will be tagged and relocated. If the Edelweiss bear can’t break the garbage habit, it may be euthanized.

Wildlife officials discourage people from purposely feeding bears.

“It creates a very dangerous situation, mostly for the bear,” Hampton said. “None of it ends well for the bear.”

Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson