Black Bear Raids Trash Cans At Lake Of The Ozarks Home

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — A local couple says they caught a black bear red-handed as he was trying to break into their outdoor trash bins.

Laura and her boyfriend Ben live in Laurie, Mo. On Sunday, April 18, Laura and Ben were getting ready for bed when Bob heard what he assumed were raccoons trying to get into the outdoor garbage cans. The cans were about 80 feet from the house. Ben went out to investigate and run the alleged raccoons away, but when he shone a light on the trash cans, he saw something large stand up.

"I was upstairs and heard him scream, 'It's a bear!'" Laura said.

The couple estimated the bear was 5 feet tall and around 150 pounds. It ran away when it saw Ben. They said it seemed to be afraid of people. "It ran off very scared," Laura said. Their security camera captured a shot of the hungry ursid.

Black Bear On Security Camera In Laurie, Mo.

Black bears are the only bears native to the state of Missouri, and since their reintroduction into the state in the 1960s, bears have slowly been making a comeback. But bear sightings are still uncommon in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

"We’ve never seen a bear on our property before," Laura said.

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s tips for what to do if you encounter a bear are listed below.

5 Ways To Be Bear Aware

Stay alert and avoid confrontation

Make noise so you don’t surprise a bear – clap, sing, or talk loudly. Travel in a group if possible.
Pay attention to your surroundings and watch for bear sign such as tracks or claw or bite marks on trees.
Keep dogs leashed.
If you see a bear, leave it alone! Do not approach it. Make sure it has an escape route.

If you encounter a bear up close

Never corner a bear – make sure it has an escape route.
Back away slowly with your arms raised.
Speak in a calm, loud voice.
Do not turn your back to the bear.
Walk away slowly – DO NOT RUN.

Odors attract bears

Keep a clean campsite. Follow these guidelines when camping in black bear country.
Store all food and toiletries like toothpaste and deodorant in a secure vehicle or strung high between two trees.
Store garbage securely in a vehicle or strung high between two trees. Never burn or bury garbage or food waste.

A fed bear is a dead bear

Never feed a bear!
Feeding bears makes them lose their natural fear of humans, and teaches them to see humans as food providers. They will learn to go to places like homes, campsites, and neighborhoods to look for food, instead of staying in the forest.
A bear that has gotten used to getting food from humans may become aggressive and dangerous. When this happens, the bear has to be destroyed.
Help bears stay wild and healthy, and keep yourself and your neighbors safe. Don’t feed bears.

Be bear-aware on your property

Never feed a bear, on purpose or accidentally.
Don’t leave pet food sitting outside. Feed pets a portion they’ll eat at each meal and remove the empty containers.
Store garbage, recyclables, and compost inside a secure building or in a bear-proof container until the day of trash pick-up.
Keep grills and smokers clean and store them inside.
Don’t use birdfeeders from April through November in bear country. If you must, hang them at least 10 feet high and 4 feet away from any structure.
Use electric fencing to keep bears away from beehives, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, orchards, and other potential food sources. Get more detailed tips on black bear control, including electric fencing.
Contact your county Conservation Agent for help with making your property unwelcoming to bears.