Police Offer Tips On Coexisting

With Wandering Bears

Police warn that a black bear recently has been spotted in town and urge that residents be aware of various dos and don’ts concerning wild bears.

On August 31, a black bear was reported traveling in the Parmalee Hill Road area, and on September 3 a bear was spotted on Sanford Road.

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), when in wilderness settings bears usually avoid people. But food sources near homes can cause bears to grow habituated to humans and disturbances, such as dogs and other noises. Bears are attracted by bird feeders, garbage, outdoor pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and berry-producing shrubs.

The DEP recommends that in order to avoid attracting bears, people should:

éRemove bird feeders from late March through November. If a bear visits a bird feeder in winter, remove the feeder.

éAdd a few capfuls of ammonia to trash bags and garbage cans to mask food odors. Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store in a garage or shed. Wait until the morning of collection before bringing out trash.

éDo not leave pet food outside overnight. Store livestock food in airtight containers.

éDo not put meats or sweet-smelling fruit rinds in compost piles. Powdered lime can be sprinkled on the compost pile to reduce the smell and discourage bears.

éThoroughly clean grills after use.

éNever intentionally feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become aggressive and dangerous. This may lead to personal injury, property damage, and the need to destroy problem animals.

éEncourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.

If you see a bear on your property, you can either leave the bear alone and wait for it to leave, or make loud noises from a safe distance to attempt to scare the bear away.

Bear sightings should be reported to the DEP. The Internet address to report bear sightings to the DEP is www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/sighting/bearrpt.htm.