Why we can't leave our first floor windows open...

At precisely 11:57pm there was a loud scraping noise and banging outside. We both awoke a bit flustered, not knowing what in the world would make that noise! Jeremy rushed down the stairs to look out our front window and witnessed a large black bear (it was really the color brown, but not a brown bear or grizzly bear) manhandling our bear-proof trash can to get at the one bag of trash inside of it. Some loud banging on the windows and flashing of lights finally scared it away. Neither of us was brave enough to go outside and get the trash can from the middle of road, so we went back to bed, although we were too hyped up and somewhat scared to fall asleep quickly. This morning when we woke up our trash can was back in its normal spot... a neighbor must have needed to get through on the road and moved it. However, there are teeth and claw marks, along with much mud to prove that the event was not just in our dreams...