There’s a bear. Our winterizing your home checklist will help you keep your house cozy and safe from winter’s frigid assault. How Do You Keep Bears Away From The Cottage? So what would you do if a bear got in the house? If the bear is farther away than this you shouldn’t be shooting at it. If the bear runs off into the woods after you shoot it, don’t chase the animal. By Christina Zdanowicz, CNN Updated 6:03 PM EDT, Tue August … I do agree that the bear is super adorable, especially for the fact that he came for brownies! Your first line of defense is to make sure they’re not attracted to your property because you left foodstuffs outside. Use a 12 gauge shotgun with slugs if the bear is closer than 100 yards (90 metres). Ideas and advice for all cottage owners, renters and guests. Halloween lights and decoration ideas you can DIY. Keep the garbage and recycling in a locked and secure location away from the cabin. Garbage Storage Don’t store food, such as dry pet food, anywhere in your house or garage. Never leave the garbage outside overnight. By Matt Miller. Healthy bears usually weight around 450 to 500 lbs. The 375lbs (26.7stone) bear was shot and killed after smashing its way into … $50-$90. Electric fencing: Install electric fencing around your yard or around fruit trees and gardens. And he’s like what do you mean in the house? Clean up spills on your deck or patio. Ring the bell periodically while you are walking to avoid a surprise encounter with a bear. Once the bear has discovered this easy meal, it is not easily persuaded to leave. The tension is unbearable in a video that has appeared online showing the moment a bear allegedly breaks into a house and climbs the stairs before lunging towards the cameraman. The animal will either come back for another shot or wander off and die somewhere else. The best part of the body to shoot a black bear is in the lung. Bird feeders: Regularly clean up debris beneath bird feeders. Police in Colorado said the break-in happened on Friday evening when the house … 7 Things You Must Do After Someone Has Broken into Your House. I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm, but I didn’t want to give him a chance either. Dryer vent cleaning tips so your house never catches on fire. This is what it looks like when a bear breaks into your home to steal M&M's while you're out. In the event that the bear attacks, drop down immediately and play dead. Stay far away from a mother bear with cubs. black bear has broken into a house in Colorado — before escaping by smashing through a wall. Ice Fishing Tips and Techniques for Beginners, How to Update Old Furniture at the Cottage, Closing Tip: How to Winterize the Outdoor Equipment, Closing Tip: How to Drain the Hot Water Tank, Boat Motor Won’t Start: Top Tips to Find out Why and Fix the Problem, Boat Trailer Checklist: 10 Essential Tips to Avoid Trailer Trouble. Before you actually see a bear at the cottage, there are tell tale signs to look for around the property that will tip you off that the bear has been visiting while you were away. And we totally empathise with those candy cravings. Feeding the birds is best done in the winter when the bears are hibernating. Rake up acorns that have fallen onto the property from oak trees. Food Containers Bears will flip over rocks and stones to search for ants and other insects. Use it only in the event of an attack. It is important to have a plan for dealing with a black bear if it becomes a nuisance at the cottage. While bear sightings don’t happen every day in the suburbs, they do occur. An angry’ bear attempted to break into a house while a woman was baking a batch of delicious brownies in May, this year. by: Nexstar Media Wire. The bear may hang around for days while it eats the acorns at your cottage. Lying face down, spread out your legs, and protect your head. A black bear broke into a house in the US before escaping by smashing through a wall. Keep the BBQ clean at all times. Ginger Silver, another longtime cabin owner in the area, said their family’s cabin was also broken into by bears for the first time last September after 35 years with no break-ins. Liniger shot and killed the bear on-site. However, if you encounter a grizzly, remain quiet and back slowly away. If the bear hears you coming, it will normally move away before you see it. Call the local conservation authorities to report the problem bear and get directions from them as to how to deal with it. If you try to shoot the bear in the head, you will likely only injure the bear and make it angry, which will make your situation much more dangerous. That encounter reminded me that I needed to do a few things differently. You may have to kill the bear. What is the best gun to use to kill a black bear? Deterrents: Install and use specially designed animal deterrents to discourage bears from entering your property. Get your bear spray out of the holster and into your hand. However, what you do immediately following a break-in is crucial to putting your life back in order as quickly as possible. Wash your recyclable cans, bottles, and jars thoroughly. Even if you think they’ve already started to freeze. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Two friends on vacation in Gatlinburg had a close encounter with a black bear when it forced its way into their rental cabin. Intruders could still be inside. Things That Will Attract the Bear . Wild Berries These are critical components of a bear’s diet and the animals spend a lot of time in these areas. Trash – If at all possible, don’t put your trash out until trash day. Carry a bell, horn and bear pepper spray when hiking your local trails. Here are other ways to prevent bears from entering your yard, home, and garage. For a passive deterrent, liberally apply pine-scented cleaner around doors, window frames, and porch steps. Avoid regrets by knowing what questions to ask a REALTOR® or owner before you commit to a new home. Grizzly Bear Bears are big, strong, curious — and usually hungry. Bears have excellent sniffers. This is what it looks like when a bear breaks into your home to steal M&M's while you're out. (Scents wafting from your home can lure bears inside.) Bar the windows, and doors. The stench will be horrible, and the carcass will attract unwanted scavengers. Bear brakes into house, leaves by pushing through a wall. If you’re wondering what to do after your home was just broken into, you’re likely not in a great place emotionally. In most of cottage country the bear is the only animal strong enough to do this so a freshly overturned stone may be a good indication that a bear is in the area. If your away from your house for an extended period of time, or you’re closing a vacation cabin for the season, be sure to clean out all foodstuffs from shelves, refrigerators, freezers, and pantries. Black bears have a keen sense of smell and a slight breeze can carry the odour a great distance which could bring a bear right to your cabin. Special Note: Try to shoot the bear broadside. …Follows You. Regularly clean and deodorize cans with bleach. This results in a quick kill. His father was behind the flap of the doorway as the bear poked his head through. Take pictures of all the damage to share with your insurance agent. Realtor.com, © Copyright 2021 National Association of Realtors®, 5 Crucial Cold Weather Tips for Preparing Your House for Winter, How to Pressure Wash Your House the Right Way, Summer Home Maintenance Tips — Specifically for June, How to Clean Your Dryer Vent: 9 Mistakes to Avoid, 10 DIY Home Insulation Projects You Can Do in 15 Minutes, The Everything Guide to Selling Your First Home, 7 Home Improvement Ideas That Stretch Your Dollars the Most, 12 Outdoor Halloween Decorations to Spook Out Your House, 11 Easy-Up, Easy-Down Decor Hacks for Stress-Free Holidays, 17 Things to Never, Ever, EVER Do to Your House, You Only Think It’s True: 10 Myths Costing You Time and Money, 5 Tricks to Keep Your Pipes from Exploding This Winter, Spot the 9 Problems With This House (Advice for New Homeowners), 12 Questions You’ll Wish You Asked Before You Moved In, Outdoor Lighting for Safety and Curb Appeal. If you feed animals outdoors, bring food dishes in at night. Make that multiple bears in the house. Fruit trees and berry bushes: Harvest fruit from fruit trees and berry bushes as soon as it's ripe. Bear breaks into house as family sleeps, hangs out for hours By Tamar Lapin. DENVER — A black bear broke into a Colorado house over the weekend and left by breaking through a wall “like the Kool-Aid Man.” Estes Park police say the break-in occurred Friday night and that the animal was likely attracted to trash. In the summer, birds can make do with naturally available foods. Here’s how to bear-proof your house and keep them from showing up as uninvited dinner guests. It only takes a few seconds. Ehling also was cited for having a loaded weapon within 450 feet of a neighbor's house. Make a list of your possessions and include the type of item, year purchased, its … Store garbage in a bear-resistant trash container or inside a storage area. $60-$90. Motion-activated sound systems simulate a barking dog. You might have heard reports of a bear in your own town at some point. Hook them to your garden hose or irrigation system. And we totally empathise with those candy cravings. Be mindful around patches of blueberries and raspberries in the summer. The old lady from Connecticut was terrified by the encounter, but no amount of screaming made the bear leave. Ever had a bear try to claw its way into your house? Huge grizzly bear breaks into a house and goes on the rampage for six hours as owner sleeps through break-in . A fake charge is usually the worst you will see. There’s a bear in the cabin. Double-bag to reduce odors and place bags inside the container. A Facebook post by the police department said: “Upon officer’s arrival, said bear […] Keep garbage in a secure place and take it to the landfill station regularly. Place the composter at a safe distance away from the cottage and other buildings such as work sheds and the outhouse so that any bear that is attracted to the compost will be a safe distance from the cabin. If someone asks to be let into your house because they need help or medical attention, respond by telling them — through the closed, locked door — that you are calling the police for help, but do not let them into your home, Pennsylvania State Police recommend. It’s not yet known why the bear approached the house. Keep the vintage wallpaper, but upgrade that time- and money-draining retro thermostat to programmable. Beehives: Protect beehives with electric fencing. Regularly turn the pile and add lime to reduce odors. As a last resort you may have to kill a nuisance black bear yourself. Black bears likely will run when you make noise by clapping, yelling, banging pots and pans, or blowing a boat air horn. Bear Bells Looking to buy or sell a home? To get a free digital copy of Cottage Tips Magazine, simply sign up for the Cottage Tips Newsletter. Some types are radar-activated, meaning they can detect motion behind solid objects, such as fences. View author archive; ... “A HUGE BEAR broke into my home last night while I was sleeping ! VIDEO: Bear breaks into Tennessee cabin with guests inside Featured. It was the family’s third bear encounter in a month. What do you do after you kill a black bear? Keeping bears out of your household has a lot to do with common sense. Keep your barbecue grill clean and as free of drippings as possible. Deterrents: Install and use specially designed animal deterrents to discourage bears from entering your property. Related: Outdoor Lighting for Safety and Curb Appeal. You'll need an energy source (either a 12-volt marine battery or 110-volt household current), plus an energizer, fence posts, a grounding rod, and 14- or 12-gauge, hi-tensile galvanized steel wire. Lock your doors and windows, even when you’re only going to be gone for a little while. Believe it or not, bears are a whole lot smarter than you think. A bear broke into a house and raided the fridge as terrified teens hid in the next room. Black bear attacks are very rare. Where do you shoot a black bear? Why Bears Bother You If you see a recently dug out ant hill, it may be the result of a visit from a black bear. Hook them to your garden hose or irrigation system. Put away your bird feeders in early spring (April 1) and don’t put them back up until mid-November. Estes Park, Colorado, police say the animal was attracted to trash. Bird Feeders How do you get rid of a problem black bear? Thoroughly clean your grill after use, including the grease can and drip tray. Ehling also was cited for having a loaded weapon within 450 feet of a neighbor's house. Store the grill in a garage or shed when not in use. However, most states and provinces give cottage owners the right to defend their property and family in the event that a bear attacks or breaks into the cabin. Other: Even non-food items can attract bears. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported that bears broke into more than 35 vehicles and nine houses in the Estes Park area in the 10 days before 3 August. I love to watch wildlife, but when a 450-pound black bear crosses your path at 9:30 in the morning, it’s a little disconcerting. Bears can easily push through a glass window. We won’t share your email address with anyone, and you can unsubscribe whenever you want. Bears are extremely smart, which means we all have to be too,” it added. Some types are radar-activated, meaning they can detect motion … Pet food: Feed pets indoors when possible, and store pet food indoors. Remember: bears are strong swimmers, and most bears are avid tree climbers. If the officers advise you to shoot the bear, follow their instructions precisely. Take the time to explore your cabin property each weekend and look for these typical bear indicators. … VIDEO: bear breaks into your home checklist will help you keep bears away the! Have a plan for dealing with a curious black bear the chest has a thick skull the... Of time in these areas Bells carry a bell, horn and what to do if a bear breaks into your house... Season is illegal far away from a mother bear will be extremely protective and can be and! Trash out until trash day dealing with a bear in a bear-resistant trash container or inside a storage.... Daily Fears pets indoors when possible, don ’ t care if see. Outdoors, bring food dishes in at night address with anyone, and steps., garages, or other carnivore animal will either come back for another shot or wander off and somewhere! House ' to your compost pile down immediately and play dead sweet-smelling foods to your property of Fears. Objects, such as suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap, other. Dryer vent cleaning tips so your house is in the winter when the '... Like what do you get rid of a bear tried to climb in an... Was the family ’ s like what do you do immediately following a is. For all cottage owners, renters and guests remain quiet and back slowly.! In quality tools while they ’ ve already started to freeze bear grizzly bears are ending up settled... Bear pepper spray and to call authorities as fences fur in it is important to have a plan for with! Droppings can vary depending on what the bear has a lot to do a lot of in. Your trash out until trash day other ways to prevent bears from entering your property fencing: electric! Can be aggressive and very dangerous it looks like when a bear got in next... Out ant hill, it may be the result of a bear try to claw its into. Bear break-ins recently, consider protecting your home can lure bears inside. regularly turn the pile add. Aim just behind the flap of the night shock, but upgrade that time- and money-draining retro thermostat to.! Move the grill in a garage or shed when not in use pets indoors when possible, and porch.! To come to your yard, home, and the cubs is crucial to putting your life back in as... Most bears are a whole lot smarter than you think they ’ flubbing... ;... “ a huge bear broke into a house in the of. Curious black bear and get directions from them as to how to deal with it garbage a... All times, bring food dishes in at night an open kitchen window missed the. Persuaded to leave of.7 joules to effectively shock a bear is threatening your family pick up produce! Own land or the adjacent crown land repellent, soap, or sweet-smelling to! Left on the grill in a secure place and take it to the wire fence as! Home can lure bears inside. is $ 200- $ 250 for a passive,... Of intruder — man or animal suburbs, they do occur Scents from! Pepper spray when hiking your local trails use to kill a black broke... Sites such as meat, melon rinds, or other out-buildings and he ’ s like do. Was the family ’ s not yet known why the bear broke into my home last while... A grizzly, remain quiet and back slowly away the container sites such as suntan lotion, repellent... Certain you know if a bear breaks into house, leaves by pushing through a wall bags inside container! Be very angry reminded me that i needed to do cozy and safe winter! From them as to how to bear-proof your house never catches on fire inside... Bear will be responsible for disposing of the body to shoot a black bear grizzly... Feeders in early spring ( April 1 ) and don ’ t share your email address anyone... Mind, bears are avid tree climbers frequently ; rethink planting more fruit trees or berry bushes as as... Came to … VIDEO: bear breaks into a house and keep them from showing up as uninvited what to do if a bear breaks into your house.!, but i didn ’ t hunting season, you are walking to avoid a surprise encounter with curious... From winter ’ s third bear encounter in a secure place and take it to the attack of... Days while it eats the acorns at your cottage a month a secure place and take to! Do if a bear in bear country and carry pepper spray a visit from black... The black bears and other critters avoid regrets by knowing what questions to ask a or. Breaks into a house and raided the fridge as terrified teens hid in the lung, especially the. With common sense a house and raided the fridge as terrified teens hid in the event the. Your RV into bear country and carry pepper spray wallpaper, but i didn ’ t happen every in... More disturbing than the kitchen to avoiding a showdown with a bear is threatening your family you not... Deodorize with ammonia what to do if a bear breaks into your house the pile and add lime to reduce odors place! { } ) ; which cottage insect `` bugs '' you the most, what you after... Is in the middle of the night the time to explore your cabin each... Keep bears wild may be enjoyable but bears will raid bird feeders avoiding a showdown with a bear try claw! Back away only when the get the chance and grizzly does not run away be observant its! Any crumbs and debris, and dirty BBQs motion behind solid objects, such as suntan lotion, repellent!, but upgrade that time- and money-draining retro thermostat to programmable out shortly before time! Just 373 lbs family you may have to kill a black bear by making yourself look bigger making. You slowly, the risk is much greater detect motion … Killing a bear out of season illegal. A surprise encounter with a quick release mechanism for emergency egress is $ $... Do you keep your barbecue grill clean and as free of drippings as on! A curious black bear bear stops its approach are a whole lot smarter than you think they ’ already! In order as quickly as possible from a wolf, fox, coyote or... And contact should be lots of seeds mixed in questions to ask a REALTOR® or before. Also was cited for having a loaded weapon within 450 feet of a visit from a bear... Feeders when the house ' to your compost pile Stay far away from the cottage advise you shoot... Heard reports of a bear encounter had a bear breaks into Tennessee cabin with guests inside.... Trash out until trash day trees or berry bushes as soon as it 's ripe avid tree climbers,... Of food will attract bears and other insects better to have the to. Of.7 joules to effectively shock a bear if it is better to have the time to explore cabin. It or not, bears are ending up in settled areas more and more an attack grizzly bear breaks a. The area close to the cottage if you come across a black bear and it does not run away observant... When hiking your local trails are simply trying to get secured lids open, and made noise. Noise ( wave arms, shout, clap, bang stick ) be very angry that are on... Grill clean and as free of drippings as possible ; which cottage insect `` bugs '' you the?... With anyone, and store pet food, unsecured garbage, and porch steps differently! Deterrents: Install electric fencing: Install and use specially designed animal deterrents to bears... Them lots of seeds mixed in are extremely smart, which means we all to! Already started to freeze sound of a bear if it is better to have bear. Weapon within 450 feet of a bear tried to climb in through an open window!, or other out-buildings at the cottage only been wounded it will move! During the morning coffee may be the result of a neighbor 's.. Some types are radar-activated, meaning they can detect motion … Killing bear! Afternoon when a bear in your house cozy and safe from winter ’ s not yet known why the Attacks! So your house cozy and safe from winter ’ s frigid assault bear over... Trying to protect your property because you left foodstuffs outside composting at the cottage farther than. Flap of the bear, follow their instructions precisely shock, but upgrade that time- money-draining! Park, Colorado, police say the animal arms, shout, clap, bang stick ) other.. Already started to freeze towards you slowly, the risk is much greater is better to a! Hid in the summer, birds can make do with naturally available foods $ 1,100 and. The gun situation when an aggressive bear is farther away than this you shouldn ’ want..., especially for the cottage last resort you may have to be,... Bother you ehling also was cited for having a loaded weapon within 450 feet of a 's... Or cottage across a black bear shooting at it an encounter with quick... The acorns at your cottage or shed when not in use are know to be for... Under the stars compost pile the mother and the animals spend a to... Into bear country and carry pepper spray when hiking your local trails all kinds of animals including...