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There have been several reported instances of black bears trying to hitch rides throughout the country this year. Most recently, a black bear (not pictured) was caught in the passenger seat of a truck in Billings, Georgia, in late July. REUTERS

A black bear was given the chance to take a joy ride in Big Canoe, Georgia, when she jumped into the passenger seat of a work truck, WXIA, Atlanta, reported. The bear was spotted in late July drinking all of the grape sodas stored inside of the vehicle.

Local business owner Gilbert Simpson encountered the bear quenching her thirst when he walked out to the company truck while on the job. He watched in shock as the bear climbed into the window of the truck and then proceeded to exit and re-enter the truck several times to deliver food from the vehicle to her cubs, USA TODAY reported.

Although there was no damage to the vehicle, the cubs ate what was supposed to be the crew's lunch. Simpson said the bear did not stick around after the food was gone before ever putting the car in drive. As such, no motor vehicle theft charges have been filed against her.

This is not the first instance reported of bears attempting to hitch rides this year. In Montana, a bear tried to join a family on a trip back from Yellowstone National Park in late June.

"[The bears] were just grazing mostly on the grass and weren't bothering anybody," the driver, David Peters, told Montana news site Mountain News. "Then one of the bears decided to check out one of the cars across the street and he did. Then he dropped down and beelined right for our vehicle."

Peters said his family found the rare encounter to be utterly terrifying, but his daughter's friend who was along for the ride felt otherwise.

"I asked my friend's daughter Elise if she thought she'd have nightmares over the whole thing," Peters said. "And she said, 'Are you kidding me? This is the best day of my life ever!' "

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