Bear population exploding in Connecticut

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The bear inhabitants in Connecticut is at an all-time excessive, with sightings going up as they arrive out of hibernation.

Greater than 1,200 bears are waking up throughout the state. They’re seeing numerous bear sightings in West Hartford.

“I moved into my home and inside two weeks, I discovered a bear taking a look at me by means of a sliding glass window which actually freaked me out, he was in all probability three or 400 kilos,” mentioned Mike Zibel of West Hartford.

Now could be the time bears want meals after hibernating for the winter, so now’s the time to watch out.

Avon leads the best way with bear sightings at 634 final yr. Simsbury is true behind them with 622, whereas Farmington had 403, Granby had 372 and West Hartford had 330.

Each winter, a staff of bear biologists tracks down dens in concrete culverts beneath porches and in backyards to see what number of new child bears have been added to the inhabitants within the spring.

One of many issues they maintain monitor of within the research is lineage. Once they verify in with bears once more the following yr, they will verify on the morality fee.

5 years in the past, the bear inhabitants was hovering round 600 to 800. The inhabitants continues to thrive.

“We’ve acquired someplace round 1,200 bears in Connecticut, however that quantity is rising on a regular basis, and I feel the best manner for folk to recollect is we will have bears in any city in Connecticut,” mentioned Jenny Dickson, director of DEEP Wildlife Divisions.

There are such a lot of bears, DEEP asks that you simply solely report aggressive or close-up confrontations with them. You are able to do that by means of their web site right here.

“Important property injury, they’ve torn down a fence, they’ve pulled siding off the storage, they’ve damaged one thing else within the yard attempting to get right into a meals supply. Completely we need to know that,” Dickson mentioned.

If you’re out having fun with the day and a bear does go by, and has one of many tags in its ear, DEEP recommends seeing if you will get the tag quantity. Don’t get too near the bear, however for those who can report that quantity to DEEP, it can assist them monitor the inhabitants throughout the state.