This is the heroic moment a bear cub trapped in a dumpster was rescued by Colorado park rangers.

The hungry baby animal had climbed into the dumpster in the Roxborough neighbourhood on July 15 to sift through the rubbish for a meal, but found it was stuck inside.

Footage shows the cub craning its head to find a way out.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers and Douglas County Sherrif deputies placed a chain link fence inside the dumpster for the bear to use as a makeshift stepladder.

The animal was seen clambering up the object and making a quick escape.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northeast Region said: 'The cub quickly reunited with its nearby mom. A happy ending for this bear family, but it could have been sour due to food waste thrown away into unlocked, unsecured places. Don't use open dumpsters, like this one, for food trash!'