Black Bear Euthanized After Breaking Into Upstate NY Home, Attacking Homeowner

Talk about a shocking homecoming. A Greene County man walked into his house Saturday night and came face-to-face with a black bear in his entryway.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the 63-year-old Cairo resident entered a room where food and garbage were stored and was met by the bear. Startled, the animal tried to escape and either scratched or bit the man in the process.

The injured homeowner was treated for deep cuts to his neck and arms at a local hospital and released the following day.

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By the time Environmental Conservation Police Officers arrived, the bear had fled. A trap was later set, and the bear was captured. Officials confirmed the animal was subsequently “humanely euthanized.”

Black Bears in New York

New York is home to an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 black bears, mostly in the Adirondacks, though they’re also common in the Catskills and other wooded regions. Encounters like this one are highly unusual, and serious attacks are even rarer. Between 1980 and 2011, only seven people were reported injured by wild bears in New York, according to DEC data.

How to Stay BearWise

The DEC is reminding residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of conflicts with bears:

• Never feed or approach bears. (Feeding bears is illegal in New York.)

• Secure food, garbage, and recycling in bear-resistant containers or buildings.

• Remove bird feeders when bears are active.

• Avoid leaving pet food outside.

• Clean and store grills after each use.

• Notify neighbors if you spot a bear nearby.

Officials say while black bears can be fascinating to observe from a distance, they’re not the kind of visitor anyone wants showing up inside their home.