Bear Invades Barn In Stafford: Police

STAFFORD, VA—When someone reported an intruder inside a barn on state Route 610 Monday, police dutifully responded to the scene and, sure enough, came face to face with an intruder, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. But this wasn't your garden variety intruder—this was a bear.

Upon hearing the officer's siren, the bear retreated into the woods. Before that, though, the resident was able to capture the incident in all its photogenic glory. Such sightings aren't unusual this time of the year, of course.

Last month a bear wandered onto the National Weather Service grounds in Sterling, and a bear was spotted near a major road in Herndon. The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries has some advice should you come across a bear:

There are no definite rules about what to do if you meet a bear. In almost all cases, the bear will detect you first and leave the area. Unprovoked bear attacks are very rare, and have never been documented in Virginia. If you do meet a bear here are some suggestions:

• 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 there is a bear 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 there is a bear 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.