Watch: Man woken up in the night after bear surprises him with a doorbell ring

A California homeowner learned his late-night doorbell mystery had a surprising cause after reviewing his security footage.

On November 26, Dennis Webster was woken up during the night at his Grand Valley, California home by a doorbell ring. When he checked the front door, no one was there. Webster then turned to his doorbell camera to find out who was behind the disturbance.

The footage showed a large bear approaching his porch in the middle of the night. The animal sniffed around the entryway before standing on its hind legs and leaning in toward the camera. The clip then shows the bear pressing the doorbell with its nose before turning away and walking off the porch.

Webster posted the video on Facebook with the caption, “Caught our ding-dong ditcher on camera.”

Reactions to the viral clip

Comments on Webster’s post continued the joke, with one user writing that the bear had arrived to complain about “bear-proof garbage cans.”

Another said: “That’s an up close and personal visit. She wants some of the yummy food you’re preparing for Thanksgiving.”

Webster’s late-night visitor isn’t the first time a doorbell camera clip featuring a bear has gone viral on social media. Back in 2023, video showing a bear stealing a family’s Taco Bell delivery gained millions of views on TikTok.