VIDEO: Startling Encounter When Black Bear Nudges Sleeping Man Awake

Matthew Bete of Greenfield, Massachusetts, was enjoying a relaxing sleep on a lounge chair in the sunshine next to a pool this past summer. His Ring security camera dutifully recorded him snoozing from behind a window screen. 

As Matthew dreamed away on what looked like a perfect summer day, the security camera showed a black bear casually strolling onto the deck and up to the pool, sniffing at the water. 

The chlorinated pool water did not entice the bear to have a drink or enjoy a swim, and he backed away, seemingly startled to see Matthew sprawled out on a chaise lounger. 

The bear first began walking away, then seemed to reconsider and approached Matthew, giving his foot a curious sniff. When that seemed to go well, the bear gave Matthew's foot a nudge with his paw, which startled him awake. Although there's no audio, Matthew must have made a noise as the bear runs away, equally surprised. 

Like any good denizen of the twenty-first century, the first thing Matthew does is grab his cellphone and start recording. Surprisingly, the bear begins to approach Matthew again. Perhaps unwisely, Matthew does not attempt to scare the bear off, but instead just continues recording with his phone until the bear loses interest and wanders off into the woods. 

If you ever find yourself being awakened from a deep sleep by a bear, may we suggest that you scream and yell, scaring the bear off and hopefully reminding him that humans are to be feared. More importantly, never, ever feed a bear. A fed bear is a dead bear.