WATCH: Family of Bears Tees Off on New Hampshire Family’s Putting Green

Let’s stop fooling around and just say it: 2023 is officially Hot Bear Summer.

I know, it’s not unusual for bears to be poking around campgrounds and even swimming pools during a New England summer. But have you heard about bears playing golf??

A family in Manchester, New Hampshire, woke up to see a family of bears playing on their putting green, as reported by WCVB. Not just knocking over flags, but also taking some swings as well.

You know what they say – if you can’t swing a club, swing a cub.

But seriously, folks. It’s just the latest instance in bears slowly infiltrating the Granite State’s “non-bear” areas. The most recent instance came in Sunapee, where a bear broke into a van and chewed on a guy’s nuts.

This comes after recent sightings in Exeter, where a family of black bears made it all the way up to people’s front porches and sliding doors. It’s possible that residential development throughout the state is responsible for the bear’s southern migration. But it could be something else.

According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game, an abundance of birdfeeders could also be responsible, with the department recommending a fairly tight annual window for safely hanging a feeder near your home.

But as NHFG bear expert Andrew Timmins is quick to note, most bears actually come in peace – or at least indifference.

If you encounter a bear, some rules of thumb are to remain calm, make some non-threatening noise to let the bear know you are there, and make calm eye contact.

For more information, listen to my full interview with New Hampshire Fish and Game bear expert Andrew Timmins by LISTENING HERE. Andrew’s interview begins at 34:30.