It was not the sight a Windsor Locks woman was expecting when she went to see what tipped her trash can.
Joyce Catania said she was in the kitchen when she heard a noise in the garage.
"I opened the door and saw my barrel was knocked down," Catania said.
As she got closer, Catania said she saw a black bear "helping himself" to the bird seed she discarded. Catania grabbed a camera and snuck a picture before the bear told her to back off.
"When he saw the phone he growled so I went it back in ," she said.
Neighbors said bear sightings are not uncommon in their community.
"This is a little close to home but they have been spotted in the area a few times," said Robert Capone. Capone recalls one run-in about a year ago when he and his wife were out walking his dog and a bear casually strolled by.
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"You don't expect to be walking and minding your own business and see a bear 20 feet in front of you," he said.
Following his neighbors encounter, Capone said residents must be mindful.
"Keep your food out of your barrels and your garage doors closed whenever you can," he said.
Catania said she will certainly be implementing those precautions.
"This is the closest they've ever gotten, so I'll keep my garage door closed from now on," she said.
