Deep Cove resident Jeff Banks received quite a shock while working from home Thursday morning.
North 麻豆传媒映画resident Jeff Banks snapped this photo of an upright black bear posing on his deck in Deep Cove Thursday morning. photo supplied Jeff Banks
He was on the phone with a client a little before 10 a.m. when he peered out his office window and noticed a black bear was getting comfortable on his back deck.
鈥淚 thought it was just this big black dog that comes down to the deck and visits,鈥� said Banks. 鈥淲hen I turned and it wasn鈥檛 this black dog anymore 鈥� it was an interesting encounter. I didn鈥檛 feel threatened or anything like that. She wasn鈥檛 trying to get in.鈥�
After a little while Banks said the bear stood up and had a look around, at which point he managed to snap a photo from the safety of his office.
鈥淔or some reason she stood up and put her hand against the wall. She wasn鈥檛 really clawing and trying to get in. I don鈥檛 know why she stood up 鈥� she just did,鈥� said Banks.
While Banks said he was used to getting bear visitors, he had never had one show up in the middle of the day and come up so close to his house.
The animated bruin stuck around for about 10 minutes before departing towards the ocean, according to Banks.
The North Shore Black Bear Society noted that bear sightings may be more common at this time of year as bruins prepare for their long hibernation periods. The society advised residents to stay clear of bears and be diligent about ensuring outdoor attractants, such as bird feeders, compost bins and garbage bins, were not left out for them.
鈥淭he bears are foraging up to 20 hours a day getting ready for hibernation,鈥� said Christine Miller, education co-ordinator with the society.
