NORTH NAPLES, FL (WBBH/CNN) - A family is scared after a group of black bears started showing up outside their house.
A husband and wife came face-to-face with them in recent days.
A video captured bears walking right up to homes.
"I've never been more scared in my life," Melissa Wychocki said. "I was mostly scared for my dog."
She's scared and nervous after she came face-to-face with one of those black bear while walking her dog Charlie down their driveway.
"I looked up, and there was just a bear a large bear staring right at us," Melissa Wychocki said.
She said the bear growled at the yellow lab and started walking towards them.
"We started walking backwards, and I just kept screaming," Melissa Wychocki said.
State wildlife officials say the family did the right thing by yelling and not turning their backs toward the bears.
She got to the front door and ran inside, but the next day her husband, Nick, also had an encounter with a bear and three cubs.
"I just happen to glance to my left, and the bear was standing at the edge of my driveway about 30 feet from me," he said.
The couple said there have been more black bear spottings recently. The concerning part is the bears have become more comfortable.
"I'm actually terrified to be outside with my kids right now," Melissa Wychocki said.
"It was concerning that they were just very matter-of-factly around us and around our house and around out neighborhood," Nick Wychocki said.
The couple is asking neighbors to keep trash inside just before pickup to hopefully drive these furry visitors away.
"If the foods not there, then they will just move on," Melissa Wychocki said.
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