"There were some heavy hives he knocked over to get at the honey," a friend of the Grove Street homeowner told Daily Voice on Monday.The homeowner "watched while the bear ate," then was left with a major cleanup, she said.
Ramsey police issued an alert. The Eric Smith Middle School is behind the property.
Although bears prefer immature bees -- for their fat and protein -- they'll endure the stings and narrows of domestic hives to get at the sweet stuff, according to bear.org.
"We get our honey from there. Looks like the bear does, too," the Ramsey homeowner's friend said.
"Her son was happy to see the bees were still in the hives -- not a cheap hobby," she said. "I'm sure the bear'll be back."
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