Coventry resident describes seeing large bear on front porch

COVENTRY, R.I. (WLNE) — When Josh Dominikoski got a notification of motion on their porch, they thought it was just a cat.

What greeted them was a large black bear.

“I click it and open it up,” Dominikoski said. “My eyes bugged out of my eye sockets because there was a giant bear on the front porch just waking by and triggered the camera. And then he walked behind the greenhouse that we have set up right here.”

The resident said he had never seen a bear in the 20 years of living in the home.

Around 11 p.m. the bear showed up again, and Dominikoski said it stood in front of the camera light and seemed startled.

“Well, I was scared for my pet although we do let her out in a caged area so that no other animals can get to her and we make sure she is on a leash,” he said.

Luckily the dog was inside.

“I was worried about her for that. It was mostly surprise, not fear,” Dominikoski added.

The Department of Environmental Management suggests removing bird feeders and never feeding or approaching bears if you see them.

It’s also important to secure food, garbage, and recycling, as those all attract bears.

Dominikoski said he did not report the bear sighting to the DEM.

He felt the bear did not cause harm but he did make his neighbors aware right away.