Record Number Of Bears Entering Connecticut Homes, DEEP Says

ACROSS CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this week reported an "unprecedented" number of black bears entering homes so far in 2020.

It's a trend following year-to-year rises in such incidents, resulting in an "unprecedented number of complaints and requests for assistance," DEEP officicials said.

Some of the interactions have been serious, including bears entering homes and "gravely" injuring both leashed and unleashed dogs, according to DEEP officials.

Through July 8, the DEEP has received more reports of bears entering homes — 25 — than in any previous year and Connecticut is on track to triple the average number of home entries of 2018 and 2019.

The number of home entries reported this year in June alone — 17 — equaled those reported during all of 2019.

DEEP officials have posted several "best practices" residents can practive to help reduce the likelihood of an encounter with a bear. They are on the DEEP's "Living with Black Bears" web page:

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Nuisance-Wildlife/Living-with-Black-Bears

DEEP officials said black bears that "access and consume human-associated food" like birdseed, trash and pet food on a regular basis become "habituated" or comfortable around people. That leads to becoming food-conditioned toward humans, DEEP officials said.

That leads to "conflicts with humans" increasing and more property damage to houses and cars and injuries to pets and livestock, they added.

(CT DEEP)

"Black bears should never be fed – either intentionally or unintentionally," said Jenny Dickson, the DEEP Wildlife Division director. "Bears that are attracted to homes by easily-accessible foods lose their fear of humans. Such bears spend more time in neighborhoods and near people, increasing risks to public safety, the likelihood of property damage, and the possibility that the bears may be hit and killed by vehicles."

She said if residents encounter a bear while in a yard or hiking, they should make their presence known by yelling or making other loud noises.

Never attempt to get closer to a bear, she said. If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area, she added.

"If in your yard, go into your house, garage or other structure," Dickson said. "If the bear persistently approaches, go on the offensive, shout, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks. If your dog is hiking with you, it is imperative that you keep the dog on a short leash and do not let it roam free. This is for the safety of your dog, yourself and the bear."

Precautions include:

• Remove food attractants, such as bird seed and unsecured garbage:
• NEVER feed bears.
• Do not feed birds in the spring (starting in late March), summer, and early fall. Clean up spilled seed from the ground.
• Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Adding ammonia to cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor.
• Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
• Do not store leftover bird seed or recyclables in a porch or screened sunroom as bears can smell these items and will rip screens to get at them.
• Supervise dogs at all times when outside. Keep dogs on a short leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs. (Dogs are required to be on a leash when visiting State Parks, State Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas. Check dog and leash regulations for town properties, land trusts, and other public properties before heading to those areas.
• Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside.
• Use electric fencing to protect beehives, agricultural crops, berry bushes, chickens, and other livestock.
• Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.
• Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods, such as fruit and fruit peels, in compost piles.

DEEP officials said in the rare instance when a bear appears to be aggressive toward people, residents should immediately contact the DEEP 24-hour dispatch line at 860-424-3333.

Anyone who observes a black bear in Connecticut is encouraged to report the sighting on DEEP’s website at:

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Nuisance-Wildlife/Living-with-Black-Bears

The DEEP Wildlife Division can be reached at at 860-424-3011.

Information on the presence or absence of ear tags, including tag color and numbers, is particularly valuable, officials said.

DEEP officials said a common misconception is that a tagged bear is a problem bear, and a bear with two ear tags was caught on two different occasions because it was causing problems. Every bear receives two ear tags (one in each ear) the first time it is handled by the DEEP. Most tagged bears have not been caught as problem bears, but rather as part of a project researching the state's population, they added.

A localized and filterable mapping tool of reported bear sightings is available through the DEEP's website at:

https://ctdeep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=924a7664caac4b9ba54512233b7d5495.