This is the shocking moment a black bear was caught on camera playing in a family's backyard in Massachusetts.

CCTV footage captured by resident Tom Whittier shows the animal walking on its hind legs while foraging in a garden in Townsend on August 10.

Following the sighting, police issued a warning to residents in the northern Middlesex County community.

They said: 'We want to alert residents in the Mason/Greenville Rd area about a large, approximately 400 lbs, black bear that has recently been spotted multiple times in the neighbourhood. The most recent sighting was yesterday, Sunday, around 5:30 pm while people were outside grilling.'

Authorities urged locals to take safety precautions over the next week, including removing bird feeders, securing rubbish bins, and keeping all doors, including garage doors, closed.

Wildlife officials noted that Massachusetts is home to at least 4,500 black bears. These animals often ignore natural food sources such as acorns and nuts in favour of easier pickings from bird feeders, trash, or backyard chicken coops.

Police added: 'Environmental Police advise that if the bear can't find food for a week, it should move on to another area. Let's work together to help encourage the bear to move along to a safer place!'

Black bears are commonly found in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and areas west of the Berkshires. However, sightings of young males and breeding females have also been reported in parts of eastern Massachusetts along Route 495.