Video: Black bear surprises Brainerd, Minn. family in middle of night

BRAINERD, Minn. (FOX 9) - It is that time of year--bears are starting to wake up and emerge from their dens after a long winter. 

FOX 9 viewer Jenny Voels captured a video on a "Nest" camera of a black bear rummaging around on her deck in Brainerd, Minnesota Thursday night. 

Voels said the bear got into their garbage cans and also played with a black bear statue they had in their yard. 

While a bear sighting can be exciting for some, once a bear is conditioned to frequent a home looking for food--like that found in a garbage can--it can be difficult to disourage them from coming back. 

Wildlife biologists say you should never provide food to bears. The best advice is to remove the attractant and the bear will eventually move on.

Read more at fox9.com/bearweek.