“That’s a big one,” Greenfield resident catches bear near birdfeeder

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A 22News viewer sent a video of a bear visiting a backyard in Greenfield.

In the video, the woman sees the bear approaching a birdfeeder in the backyard. She bangs on the window from inside the home which scares the bear away. She goes to another window, sees the bear, and bangs on the window again. This causes a reaction of the bear to move faster away from the home.

Happy to see the bear pick up speed away from the property, the viewer goes to a third window to see the bear gallop to the wood line and says, “That’s a big one.”

Bears are omnivores, which means that they eat both vegetation and meat. In the summertime, they take advantage of ripening berries and can often be found in thick regenerating forest stands where berries are often found. Bears also eat grubs and insects, dead animals, and occasionally young deer.

Black bears are black overall with a brown muzzle and sometimes a white chest patch, with large feet that are well-padded, with moderate-sized, curved claws.

According to the National Park Service , if you see a bear you should do the following:

• Remain watchful
• Do not approach it
• Do not allow the bear to approach you
• If the bear is at a distance, feeding or walking by, and notices you but continues its natural behavior, no action is needed on your part. Proceed while continuing to observe the bear.
• If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close.
• Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don’t run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.

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