An intruder was caught red-handed sniffing around a South Island home Sunday night, but itB次元官网网址檚 not the kind of bandit you might expect.

Surveillance footage shows a black bear investigating the entrance way of a Langford home before sauntering off into the darkness.

Homeowner Linda Brown didnB次元官网网址檛 wake up when the bear poked around her Ravensview house at approximately 4:35 a.m., but when her husband found their garbage can tipped over and rifled through Monday morning, she decided to check the video surveillance to see if they might catch a glimpse of the culprit.

B次元官网网址淪ure enough, there was the bear right at the front door,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t seemed quite comfortable. It walked right up to the front door and then kind of slowly walked away. It didnB次元官网网址檛 seem fearful at all.B次元官网网址�

This isnB次元官网网址檛 the first time BrownB次元官网网址檚 house has had a visit from a furry trespasser.

Her garbage can was ripped through a few months ago and large, muddy foot prints indicated a bear was to blame.

Brown isnB次元官网网址檛 concerned for her own safety but sent an email to neighbours warning them to watch their dogs and kids.

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BC Conservation Officer Peter Pauwels agrees that bears in the area are more a nuisance than a threat.

B次元官网网址淭he risk is pretty lowB次元官网网址� but we canB次元官网网址檛 predict with certainty what theyB次元官网网址檙e going to do and if somebody was to get between a bear and a source of food, there could be a problem,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥r sometimes peopleB次元官网网址檚 pets will antagonize a bear and that can be dangerous for the pet.B次元官网网址�

So why isnB次元官网网址檛 the bear hibernating? The simple answer: It would rather eat.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not that unusual to see a bear out of hibernation this time of year,B次元官网网址� said Pauwels. B次元官网网址淲e get a few every year that are delayed going to the den or theyB次元官网网址檒l come out early, or in some cases it seems that they donB次元官网网址檛 go into the den at all.

B次元官网网址淚f thereB次元官网网址檚 a ready food source available, sometimes that will influence their behaviourB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

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Pauwels said bear sightings have been increasing in areas they donB次元官网网址檛 typically forage such as Langford, Colwood and Metchosin.

He said that might be because there is more unsecured garbage for bears to pick through.

B次元官网网址淣ow that itB次元官网网址檚 done that once, itB次元官网网址檚 probably going to come back looking for more,B次元官网网址� Pauwels said of the bear that visited BrownB次元官网网址檚 home. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 probably a pattern of behaviour thatB次元官网网址檚 existed for some time. If we want to deal with the problem and get the bear to go to the den, the first step is to secure garbage and that means everybody in the neighbourhood.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 blame people cause itB次元官网网址檚 not something they have had to consider in the past, but we are seeing more bears in areas where they havenB次元官网网址檛 been in the past,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淪o people need to be aware that if thereB次元官网网址檚 a bear in your neighbourhood, youB次元官网网址檙e legally obliged to secure your garbage and prevent the bear from accessing it.B次元官网网址�

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