A Florida resident received a huge surprise when she discovered a bear had entered her yard, opened the refrigerator, and stolen an alcoholic beverage. The unusual visit was captured by the property's security cameras.
The incident occurred over the past weekend in Golden Gate Estates, a residential area near Naples in southwestern Florida, according to reports from WSVN 7News.
The animal managed to access the yard through an exterior door that had been left unlocked. Once inside, it began to explore the area until it found a refrigerator, which it opened to take an alcoholic drink. According to Gulf Coast, it was a Sun Cruiser, a brand of ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages made with real iced tea, lemonade, and premium vodka.
The owner, Celine Emerson, discovered what had happened after noticing that the appliance door was open.
"I turned around and saw that the refrigerator was open. I yelled at my husband to check the cameras," the woman recounted to the American media.
The recordings then revealed the unexpected visitor moving calmly through the property.
The bear didn't settle for just checking the refrigerator. It also rummaged for about half an hour through the trash in the front yard, where it found food scraps.
"He spent 30 minutes eating from the trash. I figured he was thirsty," Emerson commented humorously.
A bear that seemed to measure 1.83 meters
The resident recounted that the presence of the bear evoked a mix of awe and fear, especially when she saw its size in the images.
"It was a little frightening to see him here. When he stood up, he seemed to be around six feet tall," he explained, referring to an approximate height of 1.83 meters.
Upon waking on Sunday, he also found a huge footprint on a countertop in the patio.
Although the incident did not leave anyone injured, Emerson acknowledged that the experience made her rethink the security measures of her home.
The woman admitted that her family didn't usually keep the front door closed, but she assured that they will be more careful, especially as their granddaughter grows up.
Why do bears approach homes in Florida?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) explained that during the autumn, black bears significantly increase their food intake to build up fat reserves before winter.
During this time, they may spend up to 20 hours a day looking for food, which increases the likelihood of them approaching neighborhoods and residential properties.
Authorities recommend keeping trash containers securely closed, storing pet food, cleaning grills, and securing doors and exterior access points.
They also warn that leaving food accessible to animals can cause them to return repeatedly to inhabited areas, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters.
In Florida, it is prohibited to intentionally feed bears or leave food and waste that attract them and create conflicts with people.
The video of the episode can be viewed in the original post from WSVN 7News.
Related videos:
Filed under: