Bear Sightings Piling Up In Vernon

VERNON, CT — While a male black bear seems to have established residency in Vernon, a female and a cub have now been spotted on a few occasions in town, an animal control officer said this week.

"I think we can say he is now a resident bear," animal control officer Craig Segar said Wednesday morning, referring to the male bear. He seems docile toward people, but I have to remind folks that he is still a bear and we need to be cautious."

The male bear seems to favor the Route 30 corridor from Bamforth Road to Merline Road, according to where the sightings have been recorded. The closest he has been to Rockville has been on once occasion on King Street, right off Route 30, he said.

Sightings have taken place since early June.

The female and her cub were spotted for the first time last week, Segar said.

"And she is likely going nowhere with the young one, so make that three resident bears now," he said.

The male is the adventurous one, Segar said.

He was recently spotted feasting on a bird feeder on someone's back porch, he said. Another call placed to animal control was from a woman who was siting in a carport. She said the bear walked between the carport and a shed and passed the woman about 3 feet away from her, he sad.

"He is just looking to fatten himself up for the winter," Segar said.

The male seems unrelated to the female and her cub, Segar said.

Like Vernon police did last week, Segar said anyone encountering the bars should follow the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection guidelines.

Here are the DEEP tips:

• Observe bears from distance.
• Make noise if you need to encourage them to leave your yard or to get them out of your way in outdoor settings like hiking and camping.
• If bear is seen in populated or heavily trafficked area or if the animal is acting boldly, call local police or talk to animal control officer. In case of true emergency situation call DEEP at 860-424-3333.
• Secure garbage can lids and try to prevent access for bears.
• Clean your outdoor grill grease traps - bear love to pry them loose and lick the drippings.

In the past year, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says there have been 4,674 bear sightings in Connecticut. For a breakdown from most to least sightings click here.
Click here for the DEEP's bear page.

Vernon's bear was first reported the local animal control officers on June 9, but some residents said they have reported seeing it to state officials as early as June 2. It has been seen regularly along the Route 30 corridor from center of town to Dobson Road.

An animal control officer said one was seen in a local yard, drinking drippings from a grill grease trap, "like a beer."

Click here for some sighting accounts.

A bear attacked a goat at a private home in Ellington earlier this year.

Photo Credit:Vernon Greenways/Vernon Animal Control