Bear cub lends helping paw with Glovertown woman's laundry

A Glovertown homeowner got a surprise guest this week, but it wasn't a friendly neighbour popping by for a chat. 

Instead, it was a playful bear cub with a curious appetite for freshly washed clothes.

"I heard little snaps of the clothes pins coming from the garden," said Alisa Watkins.

"And by the time I got there … he was having a grand old frolic in my towels rolling around on the ground, and he playfully jumped up and proceeded to pull off my other towels."

Watkins says she quickly grabbed her phone and started taking a video as the cub pawed at her towels, tossing them around like a child full of energy.

This wasn't the first time Watkins spotted the furry visitor in her backyard.

She says the last time it decided to pay a visit, her daughter spotted the cub munching on dogberries from the trees.

This time, however, it chose to entertain itself by pulling freshly cleaned towels off the clothesline and scattering them around the garden.

"It wasn't acting aggressive or afraid, just a cute little thing, but ... you know, from a safe distance," said Watkins.

She says the bear cub wandered around looking for food before eventually losing interest and disappearing into the woods.

WATCH | This bear's cute as a button, but it's not great at chores:

This bear offered a helping hand with some clothes on the line — but folding was a no-go

3 months ago

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Alisa Watkins of Glovertown, N.L., had some clothes out to dry in her backyard. A bear that had wandered into her garden decided to lend a helping paw, but then decided that was enough chores for the day and sauntered off.

After the cub left her property, Watkins says she called wildlife officials to notify them about the frequent furry visits.

They came by that evening to set up some sweet bear traps.

"The traps have treats covered with molasses, so hopefully he finds that tempting," said Watkins.

Glovertown residents are seeing more bears around their properties than usual, according to this homeowner. 

She says with fewer berries and apples in the wild this season, the furry intruders are venturing more into the residential areas.

Watkins hasn't seen the bear cub since its last visit, but she says it certainly didn't lend a hand with the laundry mess.

"No, he left them," she said of her towels.

"I had to take them in and wash them all again."

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