A surveillance camera at a home in New Hampshire recently captured an amusing scene — a black bear wandered into the front yard of the house and, quite "politely," rang the doorbell to see if the owners were home. Afterward, the bear roamed around the yard and even tried to get into a nearby hot tub.
The video circulating online shows the young black bear looking around the patio before sniffing the doorbell carefully. Then it stood up on its hind legs and used its paw to press the doorbell, creating a noticeable chime. The bear glanced inside through the window, as if waiting for someone to open the door.
After a moment, the bear stepped back and turned to explore other parts of the patio. When it spotted the hot tub, it stood upright, placed its paws on the cover, and sniffed it. Seeing that the cover didn't move, the bear appeared to give up and then walked toward the wide open area further back in the yard.
Local resident Jay Lievens wrote on Facebook, "At least it was polite enough to ring the doorbell to see if we were home."
New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game on Black Bears
The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game has stated that the state is home to only one species of bear—the black bear. The population is estimated to be between 4,800 and 5,000 bears, averaging about one bear per 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers).
The department urges people not to feed bears or meet their needs through improper food or garbage storage. Experience in the state shows that doing so can increase property damage and the likelihood of conflicts between bears and humans. It may even lead to bears exhibiting problematic behaviors that ultimately result in their removal.
The department noted that black bears can be dangerous. They have the ability to kill humans, although such incidents are extremely rare. The last known fatal black bear attack in New Hampshire occurred in 1784.
Like all wildlife, black bears should be considered unpredictable animals and treated with caution. The department reminds the public that if you encounter a bear, you should keep your distance and make your presence known by clapping, talking, singing, or making other sounds. Do not run away, avoid eye contact, or turn your back to the bear. Bears may perceive weakness and attack if provoked.
Bears can run faster than you, swim faster than you, and climb higher than you. If you are attacked by a black bear, you should fight back instead of playing dead.
