Kentucky — A Kentucky woman’s early Thursday morning took a terrifying turn when she learned that a bear had apparently broken into her home while she was asleep — and may have been searching for leftover fast food.
Kendra North was sleeping when the animal entered her house. Her sister, who lives next door, witnessed the bear walking out of the home around 5 a.m. and immediately began calling North.
North initially ignored the calls twice, but her sister continued calling until she finally answered. That’s when she received an unbelievable warning.
Her sister reportedly told her, “Bro, there’s a bear, and it just walked out of your house.” The animal then reportedly came down the home’s steps and looked directly at North’s sister from across the yard before leaving the area.
Bear Shatters Heavy Glass Table
The animal apparently caused significant damage while inside the house. North said the bear smashed a very thick glass table, producing such a loud sound that her sister initially thought there had been a car accident outside.
“My table is really thick glass, and it completely shattered it,” North explained.
Her sister reportedly heard the glass breaking from inside her own home. North also believed the bear was a substantial size based on what happened inside her house.
While the property damage was alarming, the homeowner quickly realized there may have been a more important reason the animal decided to enter her home in the first place.
Leftover KFC May Have Attracted the Bear
North believes the bear was likely searching for food when it entered. And she had an obvious suspect: leftover KFC sitting inside the home.
“I’m a little sad over my KFC,” North said, turning what could have been a terrifying wildlife encounter into an unexpectedly humorous story about losing dinner to a hungry bear.
The incident serves as a reminder that bears can be attracted to easily accessible food, even when it is inside or near a residence.
Wildlife Officials Warn Residents About Food Attractants
Kentucky wildlife officials are urging residents to take precautions when bears are active in their neighborhoods.
John Hast, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Bear Program Coordinator, said outdoor food sources are one of the major reasons bears approach homes.
Residents who feed pets outdoors should be especially careful, he said, because leaving food outside can provide bears with an easy meal.
Hast advised people to avoid leaving pet food on porches or in other accessible locations. He also recommended checking other potential attractants if bears have recently been spotted nearby.
Garbage can be another major attraction, meaning residents should consider where trash is stored and whether bears can easily access it.
Kentucky Woman Changes Her Routine After Bear Break-In
For North, the unexpected home invasion has already changed how she plans to store food. Her advice is simple: don’t leave leftover KFC sitting on the kitchen table, and make sure doors are securely closed.
“Definitely don’t leave your leftover KFC on the kitchen table and make sure the door is shut very well,” North said.
Although the bear left without seriously hurting anyone, the broken furniture and missing dinner gave North a memorable reminder that wild animals can quickly take advantage of an easy food source.
The incident also highlights why wildlife officials encourage residents to remove anything that could tempt bears toward homes.
For North, the lesson came with a shattered table, a frightening early-morning phone call and one unfortunate casualty: her leftover KFC.
What would you do if you woke up and discovered a bear had broken into your home? Would you be more worried about the bear or your stolen dinner? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
