Wildlife officials are urging residents to take precautions after a homeowner discovered a bear entered his home through an unsecured door Friday night.
The man thought a burglar had broken in, but police found paw prints and a neighbor reported seeing a bear jump out a window.
A trap was set for two days, but the bear didn’t return, said Kris Middledorf, area wildlife manager. If the bear had been caught it would have been relocated because it passively entered the house. If the bear had broken in, it would have been killed.
Officials also reported a bear got into a car Tuesday on Burgess Creek Road and caused damage. Last summer bears broke into dozens of cars and totaled some. In 2016, wildlife officers euthanized five bears.
Middledorf offered the following tips to reduce bear danger:
- Secure doors and windows on the ground level.
- Put trash in bear-proof trash cans.
- Keep barbecue grills clean.
- Put away bird feeders.
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