A black bear makes off with a bird feeder on Birchwood Drive in Ansonia on July 2.
VALLEY – Black bear sightings in the Valley are up compared to last year, with over 250 sightings reported between Shelton and Naugatuck. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has tips for keeping them away from your home.
The picture above, sent by a reader, shows a black bear stealing away with a backyard bird feeder. In Facebook community groups, residents have shown hungry bears wandering in and taking casual strolls along residential streets and backyard decks in recent weeks.
Though June is typically peak month for sightings, they can happen any month of the year. According to DEEP, Connecticut black bear sightings began in the 1980s and have increased since then, with their range expanding steadily south and east. Now, they can happen anywhere.
DEEP’s webpage for black bear safety lists the following tips for keeping your home bear-free:
Remove bird feeders from your yard – bears like them just as much as birds. DEEP recommends keeping feeders out of your yard from late March through November.
Secure your garbage. Take your trash out the morning of collection, instead of the night before. Use a tight lid. You can also add “a few capfuls” of ammonia to mask food smells and ward off bears.
Thoroughly clean your grills, and keep meat and fruit rinds out of your compost piles. Sprinkle lime on compost piles to reduce smells.
If you have livestock or outdoor pets – including backyard chickens and rabbits – consider installing electric fencing to keep them safe.
If you see a bear, keep your distance. Leave it alone to give it an escape route, and keep dogs on leashes.
Don’t feed bears. Bears that associate food with humans can become more bold and aggressive, creating more danger for yourself and your neighbors.
For campers and hikers, DEEP also has a few black bear tips. Food you bring with you should be properly sealed and kept away from bears – for example, in your vehicle, or suspended from a rope out of a bear’s reach. Don’t cook near your tent, and don’t store food inside your tent. Clothes you have cooked in should also be stored out of a bear’s reach.
If you do see a bear in the wild, stand your ground. Wave your arms and make noise. Don’t try to outrun the bear, but back away slowly while facing it. If a black bear feels threatened, it may make a “bluff charge” at you, stopping a few feet away from you. If this happens, shout at the bear while standing your ground. Don’t climb any trees, and keep dogs leashed.
Black bear sightings are up in most Valley towns this year, according to this tracker. Derby, which reported only five sightings in all of 2023, is up to 20 sightings so far this year. Ansonia is at 13 sightings, and Seymour is at 21 as of early July. Further north in Naugatuck, there have been 125 bear sightings this year.
Bears, in most cases, prefer their natural forests for their homes. They’re shy creatures and, when left alone, will tend to return there. By following the above tips, you can help keep your town bear-free, and bears safe and happy in their own homes.
Report all black bear sightings to DEEP using this link. Bears seen as roadkill should also be reported to 860 – 424‑3211. For information on other wildlife sightings – including bobcats, moose, gray foxes and fishers – click here.
