Hitchhiking is illegal on highways in North Carolina.

So, clearly a black bear that hopped a ride on the back of a dump truck along Route 17 in Windsor, N.C., was in violation of said law. But who’s gonna bust him?

The truck was taking garbage to a landfill in nearby Bertie County.

WTKR News reports the bear had snuck into the back during the driver’s previous pickup, and was trapped in the back from the netting used to keep trash from flying out. After being alerted by motorists, police caught up with the truck and informed the unaware driver.

Lewis Hoggard, executive director of the Windsor/Bertie County Chamber of Commerce, told the Virginian-Pilot that the bear “stuck his head up and the deputy saw it.”

The chamber posted an image on its Facebook page, saying, “Maybe we should have a black bear festival.”

The chamber reported that when the driver rolled the screen back, “the bear hopped out of the truck and ran in the woods.”

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