NEW YORK, July 2: Residents and visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are being urged to take precautions after a mother black bear and her rare litter of five cubs were spotted breaking into vehicles.

The incident occurred on Sunday, June 23, when a Ring camera captured the mother bear entering a white SUV through an open back window. Accompanied by her five cubs, she was seen absconding with a paper bag before returning for a second theft just minutes later. The cubs waited nearby as she entered the vehicle again, emerging with another bag.

Video footage from the Ring camera showed the bears leaving the scene, with the mother bear carrying one bag and her five cubs following closely behind, heading towards a wooded area.

Authorities have cautioned the public against approaching the bears and emphasized the importance of keeping vehicle windows closed and avoiding leaving food that could attract wildlife.

The presence of a litter of five cubs is considered rare, with most black bear litters typically consisting of two or three cubs, according to bear.org. In regions with abundant food sources, such as Minnesota and the eastern United States, three cubs per litter are more common. The largest recorded black bear litter, consisting of six cubs, was found in Pennsylvania.

The unusual size of the litter likely contributed to the mother bear's repeated attempts to secure additional food sources, underscoring the need for vigilance and respect for wildlife habitats in the park.