The black bear surprises the family in Connecticut by wintering

The black bear surprises the family in Connecticut by wintering under their backyard patio

Make yourself at home! The giant black bear — dubbed Marty — surprises the family in Connecticut after their hibernating pit bull finds him under their backyard patio… and they let him stay

  • A Plainsville couple were very surprised to find a black bear hibernating under their deck when their dog started acting strangely
  • The adult black bear had established its hibernation nest under her outside deck
  • Now a social media star in his own right, the Bear’s hosts say he can stay

A Connecticut family discovered a surprise houseguest when they ventured under their backyard deck to investigate what was causing their dog to behave strangely: an adult male black bear.

Plainsville residents Vincent Dashukewich and Olivia Unwin were playing with their three-year-old pit bull, Cali, when they noticed the pup’s behavior was a little off.

Normally sweet and obedient, Cali began to growl insistently near the raised outdoor patio in the garden.

Going to investigate, Vincent was shocked to find a hibernating black bear curled up under the small crawl space.

Connecticut couple Olivia and Vincent were left confused when their normally laid-back dog started acting strange, barking and growling on the raised patio in the backyard

Connecticut couple Olivia and Vincent were left confused when their normally laid-back dog started acting strange, barking and growling on the raised patio in the backyard

Vincent ventured over to investigate and found a surprising lodger - a full-size adult male black bear who had chosen the cozy crawl space as his winter roost.

Vincent ventured over to investigate and found a surprising lodger – a full-size adult male black bear who had chosen the cozy crawl space as his winter roost.

In a now-viral video posted by his sister, Tyler, the giant animal can be seen nestled neatly in a bed of leaves, staring dazedly at the camera.

The couple, who live with Vincent’s parents, his sister and their daughter, quickly called the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

After reviewing images of the intruder, the agency identified him as an adult male black bear — animals that can weigh up to 550 pounds at full size.

The Dashukewichs were advised that they could either force the bear to flee by harassing it with noise and stimulation, or let it rest until it was done hibernating, probably in several months.

Vincent's sister Tyler first posted the video on her Tiktok with the caption

Vincent’s sister Tyler first posted the video on her Tiktok with the caption “When you find out why your dog is afraid to go outside”. The video soon garnered over 16 million views

The pup in question was three-year-old pit bull Cali, who is generally remarkably docile and sweet, her owner claims

The pup in question was three-year-old pit bull Cali, who is generally remarkably docile and sweet, her owner claims

They boldly chose the latter.

“He didn’t bother us at all,” Vincent, 28, told the New York Times. “So we feel like there’s no reason to move him.”

The siblings told news outlets they’d spotted bears near their parents’ house before, but never had one felt quite like home.

The bear, nicknamed Marty, has since built up a sizeable social network courtesy of his new hosts.

In new follow-up videos, also posted to Marty's personal account, the groggy bear can be seen hunched over under the decking amidst his bed of leaves

In new follow-up videos, also posted to Marty’s personal account, the groggy bear can be seen hunched over under the decking amidst his bed of leaves

The video shows the bear still in the middle of its hibernation and was taken from a safe distance outside the terrace

The video shows the bear still in the middle of its hibernation and was taken from a safe distance outside the terrace

In four tiktoks posted to @marty.the.bear, videos showing Marty’s progress through hibernation have garnered tens of thousands of views.

Marty even has his own Instagram account with a bio that reads, “Wintering ’til it’s a hot girls summer.”

According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the black bear population in Connecticut has increased rapidly over the past two decades. DEEP estimates that around 1,000 of them are currently roaming the state.

Black bears are the smallest and most widespread bear species in the United States. They are omnivores that prefer wooded habitats and require anywhere from 3 to 8 months of hibernation depending on the climate.