How I Just Missed a Meet & Greet With a Big Black Bear

My son, Matt, had recently been called away on an overnight business trip and asked if his mom and I could help out with the grandkids, Bradley and Winter. We always say yes because we adore them both and love to help out.

Mindy's already at the house, and I follow shortly after I stop off at Bruno's Restaurant in New Fairfield to grab a chicken parm and meatball grinder for our dinner. I jump into my vintage 2001 Honda Civic LX thanks to my late mother-in-law, Connie Palumbo, who thought it was a great idea to replace her CD player with a cassette deck. Thanks, Connie!

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It's a relaxing 35-minute ride through the backcountry roads of New Fairfield, Sherman, and New Milford. Notice in this first video as I walk into the garage with the grinders that where their backyard ends is where the forest begins. Take note of the garbage pails near the door.

The two videos were taken from outdoor surveillance cameras that Matt had installed for security reasons. This second video was taken four minutes after I arrived, and here comes Yogi!

Because Yogi couldn't score any disgusting garbage, he shuffled next door to the neighbors' bird feeder for his pre-dinner snack. This is not Yogi's first visit to the neighborhood. About three months ago, Kelly was getting Bradley off the school bus, and as they were walking back to the house, this is what she saw in her neighbor's backyard.

On the CDC's website, there's an entire page of guidelines about avoiding attracting bears. The two biggies are securing your garbage cans and taking down your outdoor bird feeders.