You don’t reach the ripe old age of 95 without learning how to handle surprises, even when they come in the form of a bear in your backyard pool.
Early Tuesday morning, Marianne Heffernan was giving her 95-year-old father, Charles Stochmal’s plants a big drink of water when she heard a splash from the other side of the hedge, according to Hearst CT Media.
She discovered a young black bear had leaped into his in-ground pool, and was doing the dog paddle. When she informed her dad that a bear was taking a mid-afternoon dip in his pool, Stochmal rose out of his chair and proceeded to yell, “Get out of the pool!’ at the fury visitor.
Not in My Pool!’: Elderly Connecticut Man Startles a Bear In His Pool!
It worked because the bear looked up and climbed out of the pool, shook off, took a big slurp of water, checked the garbage cans for a snack, and then loped back into the woods behind Stockmal’s property.
Connecticut has seen an uptick in black bear sightings this summer, according to DEEP officials, especially in the western part of the state. Backyard pools, bird feeders, and trash bins are frequent targets for these curious animals, often leading to unexpected encounters, such as Stockmal’s close encounter.
Read More: Litchfield County Bears Are Back, and Hungry For Your Trash |
His daughter posted a photo of the bear mid-swim on social media, where it has since gone viral. Still, Stockmal insists he’s not looking for fame. “All I want is my pool back.” DEEP reminds residents to secure garbage, remove bird feeders during warmer months, and report bear sightings through the department’s online portal.
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Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
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Gallery Credit: Lou Milano