Bear Sightings in Connecticut: How to Adapt and Avoid Problems

Since the dreaded winter left us behind and signs of spring began to arrive, we’ve seen another phenomenon that’s become quite common.

And that is bear sightings.

We’ve seen bear sightings in Darien, Newtown, Naugatuck, Avon, Stratford, Southington, Granby, Greenwich, Southbury and Shelton just to name a few. Two of these sightings occurred over the weekend.

In Shelton, the famous black bear became a known figure complete with his own Facebook page. In Granby, a bear between 16-17 months old that was “overly aggressive” was later euthanized and taken to UConn to be examined.

The Shelton bear was reportedly taken to a more rural location after it found its way to downtown Shelton. According to the Shelton Trails and Conversation, the bear was a yearling and this is the time of the year that mother bears drive yearlings out of their territory.

According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, bears are removed from urban locations only when there is little likelihood that they can leave safely on their own and when the animal is in a position where it can be safely immobilized.

Bear stories on Patch:

• Bear Spotted in Shelton
• Bear Spotted in Southbury
• UPDATE: Check Out Photo of 1 of 2 Bears Seen in Greenwich This Weekend
• How to Deter Bears in Farmington
• Video: Massive Bear Spotted in Farmington
• Listen: Frantic 911 Calls as a Bear Chases People in Granby
• Map: New Bear Sighting Reported in Shelton
• Bear That Chased Two in Granby Euthanized, Being Examined at UConn
• Bear Spotted in Newtown
• Photos: Bear and Cubs Spotted in Southington Backyard
• Photos: Young Black Bear Visits Partridge Lane Home in Darien
• Bear Observed on a Darien Resident’s Rear Deck
• Bears Spotted in Avon
• Massive Bear Spotted Near Southington
• Photos: Shelton Bear Spotted Again
• Shelton Bear Reportedly Being Taken to More Rural Location
• ‘Shelton’ Black Bear Spotted in Stratford
• Bear Spotted in Naugatuck: Police

Bears that become comfortable around people lose their natural fear and can become more aggressive, according to the National Park Service.

Bears are becoming more common in Connecticut as former farmlands have reverted to wooded areas. At one time bear sightings were uncommon outside of the northwest corner, but corridors of wooded areas have made it easier to bears to travel to different parts of the state.

The bear population in Connecticut is expected to increase, making interactions between bears and humans more common. The DEEP says it is important that people learn to adapt to the presence of bears and take necessary precautions to avoid damage and problems.

If you see a bear:

• 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.

Bears are attracted to bird feeders, garbage cans, pet food and any other easy sources of food.

To avoid attracting bears near your home, the DEEP recommends following these steps.

“If people do not take precautions, problem behavior by bears will continue to increase, leading to bears being removed and destroyed,“ Farmington Animal Control Officer Charlene Rogers said earlier this year. “Simply put, a fed bear is a dead bear.”

The presence of a bear does not mandate its removal, according to DEEP. In most cases, if a bear is left alone it will make its way back to a more natural habitat.

Image via Stephen Hicks