They say let sleeping dogs lie – but what about wild animals? That is what one family found themselves asking when they went outside to take their dog for a walk. “My brother and his girlfriend were taking the dog out and (the dog) was acting a little bit nervous,” Tyler Dashukewich said to CNN.
So the three of them kneeled down to peer under the porch and found the culprit. The dog had been smart to be wary. To their shock, the trio found a snoozing, gigantic black bear curled under their front porch. “We could not believe it,” Vincent Dashukewich, Tyler’s brother, said.
We’re used to seeing bears where I live, but we’re not used to them staying for so long.”
The quick-thinking family shared a video of the discovery on TikTok. The video has gained more than 15 million views so far. In it, the black bear is curled up on a pile of leaves, oblivious to the excitement of the family members. “I didn’t really have a thought, I was just kind of shocked. He was staring right at me. I didn’t know what to do, I just wanted to make sure my dog got inside safe,” Vincent told local news outlet WTNH.
The Dashukewich family contacted the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The agency told the family that “it was likely a male black bear that can be left alone until hibernation is over.” And that is exactly what they plan to do.
@thetrendytransparent #bears #newengland #bearsinct ♬ original sound – Tyler Dashukewich
DEEP told the family that if the bear does cause any trouble, they can use flashing bright lights or an air horn to get the sleeping giant to leave. The agency said they could also come out and help evict the bear. So far though, Vincent Dashukewich said their dozing visitor has been “super chill.”
“I’ve gone out to check on him a few times and he hasn’t really moved,” he told WTNH. “It’s pretty divided so far (on TikTok), half the people are like this is the scariest thing ever and the other half are like, can you pet it, it looks so cuddly. So we’re trying to keep our distance but he is cute,” Tyler Dashukewich said.
DEEP said that while bears used to be a rare sight in Connecticut, they have made a return since the mid-1800s, due to an increase in forest growth. “Black bears are generally shy and secretive and usually fearful of humans. However, if they regularly find food near houses and areas of human activity, they can lose their fear of humans,” the agency wrote. They also noted that “unlike grizzly bears, black bears are seldom aggressive toward humans, even when cubs are present.”
“If you see a bear on your property you can either leave the bear alone and wait for it to leave or make loud noises from a safe distance to attempt to scare the bear away,” they wrote. “After the bear leaves the property, remove anything that may have attracted it to the area.” Watch below for a look at this tired bear!
