VIDEO: Bear Enjoys Snack From Dog's Bowl While Relaxing On Deck

FRONT ROYAL, VA — A black bear was caught on a doorbell camera enjoying a relaxing night at a house in Front Royal on Jan. 27. As the video begins, the bear is already walking on the well-maintained deck.

The bear looks over to a set of stairs several times before finally deciding to lay down in front of a stainless steel dog's bowl. The bear, as seen on the Neighbor's app video, looks like he or she is having trouble bending his or her front left leg. The rest of his or her body laid down on the deck with ease before the bear stuck his mouth into the bowl and started eating food the dog of the house apparently left behind.

The bear can be seen chewing or crunching on something from the bowl for several seconds as he keeps an eye on any potential threats. If you turn up the volume pretty high, you can hear the bear breathing loud or chewing with his or her mouth open.

The title of the video is "the bear is back," so the bear must be a regular visitor to the deck. Black bear sightings have been common in Front Royal for a long time and are becoming more common as you head east on Interstate 66.

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Although interactions between black bears and humans are rare, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has some advice should you come across a black bear:

• Stay calm. If you see a bear and it has not seen you, calmly leave the area. As you move away, make noise to let the bear discover your presence.
• Stop. Back away slowly while facing the bear.
• Give the bear plenty of room to escape. Bears rarely attack people unless they feel cornered or provoked.
• Do not run or make any sudden movements. Running could prompt the bear to give chase, and you cannot outrun a bear. If on a trail, step off the trail and slowly leave the area.
• If a bear is in your yard and it approaches you, make yourself look big and make loud noises. Remain at a safe distance and throw rocks to make the bear feel unwelcome.
• If a bear is in your house, prop open all doors to the outside and get out of the way of the exit. Never close a bear into a room. Make noises and yell at bear to leave the house. Don't approach the bear but make sure it knows it is violating your territory.
• If you surprise a bear, speak softly. This may reassure the bear that you mean it no harm.
• Fight back. If a black bear attacks you, fight back. Black bears have been driven away when people have fought back with rocks, sticks, binoculars and even their bare hands.

Ring, the owner of the Neighbors app, is a Patch advertiser. Patch received no compensation for this article.