Terrifying clown doll scares off trash-stealing black bear

May 12 (UPI) -- A Virginia resident captured video of the effective method they devised to ward off a trash-stealing black bear -- a creepy laughing clown doll.

The video shows a bear approach a trash can outside the filmer's Salem home earlier this month and investigate the bin.

The trash can, which has a large clown doll strapped to it, appears to entice the bruin, which attempts to tip the container over to go to the delicious garbage inside.

The movement of the trash can causes its clown passenger's mechanism to trigger, making it laugh loudly, flail its limbs and light up from the eyes.

The bear, sufficiently creeped out, stops its attempt and flees the scene.