What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Do When You See a Black Bear
There have been a lot of black bear sightings in Connecticut recently. In response to that, the State has released a press release of what to do and what not to do if you come in contact with a Black bear.
There are different ways to deal with coming in contact with a Black bear, depending on where you are. If you see a bear near your home you should:
- Remove birdfeeders and bird food from late March through November.
- Put your garbage cans inside your garage/shed.
- Make sure your grills are clean and stored in your garage and shed when you are done using them.
If you see a bear near your home you should not:
- Feed the bears. If they get used to you feeding them they could become "problem bears.
- Approach the bears or try to get close to them to get a photo or video.
- Leave pet food outside overnight.
- Put any meat or sweets in a compost pile.
Here is what you should do if you see a bear when hiking or camping:
- Make noise while hiking and hike in groups. Make sure, if there is a bear close by, they are aware of your presence.
- Always keep your dogs on a leash and under control. A bear could see a loose dog as a threat to itself or its cubs.
- If you surprise a bear, back away slowly.
- If you are attacked, do not play dead. Fight back with whatever you have available.
If a bear is seen while hiking you should not:
- Approach the bears or try to get close to them to get a photo or video.
- Run or climb a tree to get away. If you can, wait in a vehicle or a building until the bear has left.
- Cook food by your tent or keep food in your tent. Keep food either in a vehicle or hung from a rope between two trees.
If you have livestock:
- Protect livestock with electric fencing and move livestock into barns at night, if you can.
- Reinforce beehives so they can't be knocked over or put up electric fencing around them.
If you see a bear in a heavily populated area there are a couple of numbers you can call:
- DEEP Wildlife Division: 860-424-3011 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
- DEEP Dispatch: 860-424-3333 (24 Hours)
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