Watch: Black Bear Snoops Around Selkirk Resident's Bird Feeder

SELKIRK, NY — Neighbors, be alert — a curious black bear was spotted snooping around a Selkirk backyard, and the animal nearly stole a meal from the local bird community. Video recorded around 11 p.m. Sunday and posted on the Neighbors app shows a hungry bear foraging for food and coming dangerously close to the home.

The animal walks onto a patio area and pushes a bird feeder, seemingly hoping for a quick snack. Disappointed at the menu, the bear then lumbers off.

"Didn’t care for the nyjer seed and the black sunflower seed feeder was empty," the neighbor's post said. "No damage this time. This was early evening, before 11pm!"

Bears have been spotted close to homes in the Hudson Valley in recent weeks. In New Paltz, a black bear strolled close to a home last month, and another bear took a jaunt through a Wingdale resident's yard in late December, hopping over and around patio furniture. In that case, the animal lingered for a while.

Yet another bear was spotted meandering past a car in Poughquag before disappearing into the darkness.

While black bears are usually found in the wilderness, they can be found in semi-rural environments, agricultural areas and occasionally in urban centers.

"Black bears are an important and natural component of New York's ecosystem," the state Department of Environmental Conservation writes on its website. "Whether you live or recreate in the bear country, please help maintain and protect the bear."

Officials warned residents to protect themselves and their property by refraining from feeding bears, as well as limiting things that attract them.

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