In the state of Connecticut, it is not unheard of to see a bear in your backyard. But what one family recently found under their deck was truly unexpected. Tyler Dashukewich and his family were taking the dog out when they discovered a bear hibernating peacefully on a pile of leaves.
When Tyler Dashukewich’s brother and his brother’s girlfriend went outside to take the dog out, they noticed that she was acting nervous. Upon further investigation, they found an adult black bear nestled on a pile of leaves underneath their deck. The footage of this discovery has been shared on TikTok and has received over 15 million views! Thankfully, the bear remained calm as the family continued to capture the video.
“We could not believe it,” added the photographer. “We’re used to seeing bears where I live, but we’re not used to them staying for so long.”
In response to this incident, the Dashukewich family reached out to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). DEEP officials responded promptly but said that they were unable to remove the animal without permission from the state wildlife division. Thankfully, the bear left on its own accord before any additional actions had to be taken.
Though this particular incident had a happy ending, it serves as an important reminder about being aware of your surroundings — especially in Connecticut where bears are often present in residential areas. Homeowners need to have both knowledge and resources available should they come across a wild animal near or around their property so that similar situations can be avoided in the future with proper safety guidelines put into place by DEEP officials in Connecticut.
