Connecticut Black Bear Encounters 2020

Black Bear | credit: USFWS

In Connecticut, interactions between black bears and people are continuing to rise, resulting in unprecedented numbers of complaints and requests for assistance, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Some of these interactions have been serious, including bears entering homes and gravely injuring both leashed and unleashed dogs.

As of July 8th, 2020 DEEP had received more reports of bears entering homes (25) than in any previous year.

Connecticut could triple the average number of black bear home entries experienced 2018 and 2019, according to DEEP. The number of home entries reported this year in June alone (17) equaled those reported during all of 2019.

DEEP is reminding residents of several best practices they can incorporate to help reduce the likelihood of an encounter with a bear. These practices, along with additional information, are available on DEEP’s “Living with Black Bears” website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Nuisance-Wildlife/Living-with-Black-Bears

Black bears that access and consume human-associated food (e.g. birdseed, trash, pet food) on a regular basis become habituated (comfortable around people) and food-conditioned (associate humans with food).

As the bear population continues to grow and expand its range, and bears become increasingly food conditioned, conflicts with humans will continue to increase, and food-conditioned bears pose a greater risk to public safety and often cause more property damage to houses, cars, pets, and livestock.

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

Bear sightings reported by the public provide valuable information to assist the DEEP in monitoring changes in the black bear population.

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 or call the Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011.

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

Actually, every bear receives two ear tags (one in each ear) the first time it is handled by DEEP. Most tagged bears have not been caught as problem bears, but rather as part of a project researching the state’s population.

DEEP suggests that municipalities adopt ordinances prohibiting the feeding of black bears, as a way of reducing conflicts between humans and bears. The towns of Hartland, Colebrook, and Barkhamsted have already adopted such ordinances

source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection