Black Bear Meanders Across I-91 Sunday

Connecticut State Police on Sunday afternoon responded to multiple calls about a bear in the center median on Interstate 91 between Exits 21 and 20 in Middletown.

It was one of several reports recently about bears in Connecticut.

A on Interstate 91 last week. A for a green snack in a backyard in Meriden recently and another one lounged in a before scooting off into the woods. have been reported in the region around Cheshire and .

According to the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), an increase in bear activity often occurs in late June and early July:

Breeding occurs during summer, usually in late June or early July. During this time, males travel extensively in search of females. The age when sows first produce cubs is related to the available food supply, but most begin to reproduce at age 3 or 4 and continue to have young every 2 years. Bears do not form long-lasting bonds, so the males may mate with more than one female during the breeding season. Fighting may occur between rival males as well as between males and unreceptive females.

The town with the top number of sightings reported to the state DEEP, among area towns, is Madison and there have been five reported from Madison the past year.

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection here is the breakdown of reports of bear activity in the Greater New Haven and Middlesex County area from June 26, 2011, to June 25, 2012:

• Chester, 2
• East Haddam, 2
• East Hampton, 1
• Hamden, 1
• Killingworth, 3
• Madison, 5
• Middlefield, 4
• Guilford, 3
• Clinton, 0
• Haddam, 2
• Durham, 2
• Killingworth, 3

While Madison has the most reports among surrounding town, 5 is much lower than some towns in central Connecticut. Avon has reported 113, Farmington, 146, and Simsbury, 95. Torrington, in Litchfield County, also had a large number of sightings, at 137.

Do the state DEEP's statistics sound accurate? Have you seen a bear in your backyard? Did you capture it in an image or video? If so, share your footage or stills with other readers on Patch by clicking on the Upload Photos and Videos button. Do you share your sightings with the DEEP?

If you see a bear and want to report it to the state DEEP, you can do so by using the link on their website. While bears may fight amongst each other for that special girl, most residents in Madison have found that they want nothing to do humans, according to the DEEP fact page.

Black bears are generally shy and secretive and usually fearful of humans. However, if they regularly find food near houses and areas of human activity, they can lose their fear of humans. Unlike grizzly bears, black bears are seldom aggressive toward humans.

The key is to make some noise and make sure they hear it.

If you see a bear, the DEEP provides the following advice:

• Enjoy it from a distance.
  
• Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away.
  
• Never attempt to feed or attract bears.
  
• Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division on the webpage, at (860) 675-8130.

If you fear that a bear is becoming a nuisance and need immediate assistance concerning a black bear, the DEEP recommends calling their 24-hour hot-line at 860-424-3333.