Interactions between black bears and people are continuing their year-to-year rise, resulting in unprecedented numbers of complaints and requests for assistance, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced this week.

An interactive online DEEP map indicated that of July 15, there have been at least 98 reported black bear sightings in Newtown this year.

Some of these interactions have been serious, including bears entering homes and gravely injuring both leashed and unleashed dogs. As of July 8, DEEP has received more reports of bears entering homes (25) than in any previous year.

The agency on July 14 said the state is on track to triple the average number of home entries of 2018 and 2019. The number of home entries reported this year in June alone (17) equaled those reported during all of 2019.

Black bears who access and consume human-associated food, e.g. bird seed, trash, or pet food, on a regular basis become habituated and food conditioned — meaning, comfortable around people and accustomed to associating them 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. Food-conditioned bears pose a great risk to public safety and often cause property damage to houses, cars, pets, and livestock.

DEEP Wildlife Division Director Jenny Dickson says black bears should never be fed, either intentionally or unintentionally.

“Bears that are attracted to homes by easily accessible foods lose their fear of humans,” she added. “Such bears spend more time in neighborhoods and near people, increasing risks to public safety, the likelihood of property damage, and the possibility that the bears may be hit and killed by vehicles.”

If a bear is encountered in a yard or while hiking, people should make their presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. Never attempt to get closer to a bear.

If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area.

If a bear is seen in a yard, people should go into their house, garage, or other structure. If the bear persistently approaches, go on the offensive: shout, wave arms, and throw sticks or rocks.

If a dog is hiking with someone, it is imperative that the dog is kept on a short lead. Dogs should not be allowed to roam free, according to DEEP, for the safety of the dog, humans, and the bear. DEEP also notes that dogs are required to be leashed when visiting state parks, state forests, and wildlife management areas. Check dog and leash regulations for town properties, land trusts, and other public properties before heading to those areas.

Reducing Encounters And Potential Conflicts

Everyone can be a good neighbor and take steps to reduce encounters and potential conflicts with bears, according to CT DEEP. The most important step is to remove anything the bears might consider food, such as bird seed and unsecured garbage. In addition:

*NEVER feed bears.

*Do not feed birds in the spring (starting in late March), summer, and early fall. Clean up spilled seed from the ground.

*Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Adding ammonia to cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection, not the night before.

*Do not store leftover bird seed or recyclables in a porch or screened sunroom, as bears can smell these items and will rip screens to get at them.

*Supervise dogs at all times when outside. Keep dogs on a short leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.

*Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside.

*Use electric fencing to protect beehives, agricultural crops, berry bushes, chickens, and other livestock.

*Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.

*Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods, such as fruit and fruit peels, in compost piles.

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 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 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. In fact, 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.

Another tool available to municipalities to help avoid conflicts between humans and bears is to adopt ordinances prohibiting the feeding of black bears. Hartland, Colebrook, and Barkhamsted have already adopted such ordinances. DEEP supports adoption of such ordinances and will be initiating outreach to municipal leaders to share information about the development, execution, and effects of these ordinances.

A localized and filterable mapping tool of reported bear sightings is available through DEEP’s website at ctdeep.maps.

Additional Information

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: portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Nuisance-Wildlife/Living-with-Black-Bears.