Suppertime For a Bear

Todd Middleton did something today he says he won't be doing anymore — this morning, he dragged his trash can outside of his home with the intention of later placing it at the curb for the next day's collection.

Instead, he arrived home shortly before 5 p.m. on Monday, to find the trash container had been ransacked by a large black bear.

Middleton said the bear apparently dragged some of the trash into a wooded area off his driveway, and was eating a meal at that spot. Middleton lives on Whitenack Road, and is surrounding by the township's Whitenack Woods, he said.

Middleton said the bear's picnic wasn't very far from where he was standing.

After initially noticing the trash had been overturned, Middleton said, "All of a sudden I looked up and he was about 10 feet away."

The bear looked him right in the eye, he said. Even still on four legs, he said the animal still was about three feet high.

Middleton said he snapped a few photos with his cell phone (see above) and then slowly backed up to his house.

Middleton said he has lived in the area about 52 years, and had never seen a bear so close to his house. The black bear was about 10 feet from his home, he said.

About two years ago, he said he saw a bear near his swimming pool.

In response to a question, Middleton said he won't be putting his trash out prior to collection day anymore.