More Bear Sightings Reported in Vernon

VERNON, CT — The Vernon bear is back.

Local police said Wednesday on Twitter that they had received "numerous reports" over the past two days of a black bear roaming around the area of Route 30 and Bamforth Road.

Animal control officers are aware of the bear, police said.

The bear seems to be back after a summer vacation — if is the same bear. Back in June, it was spotted by a group of Vernon Greenways volunteers who were working on the rails to trails system off Route 30 near Sacred Heart Church when they had a close encounter with a black bear. The bear was captured by a camera giving the workers a pleasant glance.

It was one of several sightings reported, including from Animal Control Officer Craig Segar on Interstate-84.

Segar said to report a bear sighting, go to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Web site.

Vernon Animal Control can be reached at 860-870-3558.

There have been more than 4,000 bear sightings in the state over the past year, according to statistics released by the DEEP. Fifteen communities in the state have had more than 100 sightings in the past year., according to the chart.

See the chart here.

DEEP officials said there about 700 black bears that live in the state.

Photo Credit: Vernon Greenways/Animal Control