In New Gloucester, Maine, a hungry black bear recently raided a family’s bird feeder filled with sunflower seeds but took more than just the seeds. Not content with pawing at the feeder, the bear decided to take the entire feeder and the attached camera with him, inadvertently recording his theft.
ABC News shared the amusing video on July 25th, although the incident occurred on Monday, July 22nd. The footage shows the bear struggling to access the food in the feeder before opting to walk off with the whole setup. The bear’s audacious act left viewers both surprised and entertained.
One commenter on ABC News’ post joked, “He must have been em-bear-raised!” while another quipped, “He must have a YouTube channel!” The video quickly went viral, capturing the bear’s shameless behavior and the lighthearted reactions from the public.
Jeff Meissner, the owner of the bird feeder and camera, spoke with ABC News affiliate WMTW about his plans to thwart any future bear visits. “I’ve got the alarms turned on now. I’ve got a motion-sensing sprinkler set up there, so he’s going to get a shower, some loud noise, and more pictures,” Meissner said. He added, “It’s a challenge and I love a challenge and I’ll beat the bear.” Clearly, Meissner is ready for a rematch with the crafty black bear.
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fishers and Wildlife (MDIFW), black bears are the smallest bear species in North America and the only bear found in the eastern United States. Their diet is varied, including berries, fruits, grasses, bulbs, roots, small rodents, insects, and fish. Essentially, black bears are opportunists and will eat anything they can find.
The MDIFW describes these bears as quick to adapt to new food sources, including agricultural crops and items intended to attract other wildlife, such as bird feeders and untended garbage. While black bears can be active any time of the day or night, they primarily forage for food at night.
One fascinating fact about black bears is their extraordinary sense of smell, which is about seven times more sensitive than a dog’s. They can detect food and other scents from up to two miles away, making them highly effective foragers.
Meissner’s encounter with the bear highlights the unique and sometimes humorous challenges of living close to nature. With his new security measures in place, he is prepared to outsmart the bear should it decide to return for another raid.