A group of black bears overturned a pickup truck in a Branson parking lot on Friday afternoon, creating a chaotic scene that left shoppers stunned.
The incident took place at a busy shopping center parking lot along Highway 76. Witnesses reported seeing four or five black bears approach the truck and begin pushing against it until they managed to flip the entire vehicle onto its side.
Cellphone video captured the bears swarming the truck and using their strength to roll it over. Shoppers in the area quickly moved away from the scene while recording the unusual event.
One eyewitness described the moment as shocking, saying they had never seen bears behave that way in a parking lot before.
The truck’s owner was not inside the vehicle at the time and was unharmed. Missouri Department of Conservation officers responded to the scene and worked to move the bears back into the nearby woods.
Wildlife officials noted that bears in the Branson area have become more active this spring, often searching for food near populated spots. They reminded residents and visitors not to leave food in vehicles and to secure trash properly to avoid attracting bears.
The overturned pickup truck was later towed from the parking lot. No injuries were reported.
This latest bear encounter adds to a growing number of similar incidents across the Ozarks region as tourism season begins. Local authorities continue to monitor bear activity in the area and urge caution around wildlife.