When their normally fearless dog suddenly refused to go outside, Vincent Dashukewich and his girlfriend knew something was up. Living in a home surrounded by nature, they suspected that a wild animal might be the cause of their pet’s unusual behavior. Curious and a bit concerned, they decided to investigate.
To their surprise, they discovered a large black bear peacefully sleeping right under their deck. The bear wasn’t threatening their dog; it was simply taking a winter nap. During the colder months, bears enter hibernation, which can last from a few weeks to as long as eight months. It’s hard to predict exactly how long a bear will stay asleep.
One important thing to remember when you find a hibernating bear is to leave it undisturbed. Vincent, also referred to as Tyler in some reports, reached out to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for guidance. Their advice was straightforward: let the bear be. It wasn’t dangerous while it was sleeping.
However, if the bear woke up and started causing problems, they suggested using an air horn or bright lights to encourage it to move on. If those methods didn’t work, DEEP would step in to help. Since they found the bear over the New Year’s weekend, it has been nothing but calm.
Vincent’s brother, also named Tyler, shared with WTNH, “[The bear has been super chill.] I’ve gone out to check on him a few times and he hasn’t really moved. We’re trying to keep our distance, but he is cute.”
Interestingly, black bears weren’t common in Connecticut until after the 1800s. But as forests have regrown, their numbers have increased, and sightings have become more frequent. Sometimes, they even choose to hibernate under people’s decks!
While having a bear on your property might seem like an unusual form of security, if you’d rather not have such a guest, there are steps you can take. Some preventive measures are simple, while others require a bit more effort. The key is to eliminate smells that might attract bears.
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For example, if you have bird feeders, make sure to clean up any leftover food. It’s also wise to feed pets indoors or, if they eat outside, to clean up immediately afterward. Managing your garbage carefully is another important step. Put it out shortly before collection time, double-bag it, and keep the bin clean.
To discourage bears, you might consider installing motion-activated water sprays or bright lights. If you have a deck like Tyler’s, think about adding steel grills to prevent animals from nesting underneath. Tyler is likely considering this solution himself. It’s a practical way to protect your home and to keep a bear from hibernating somewhere it probably shouldn’t.
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