Connecticut
Watered-down bill to address bears in Connecticut passes House
A final, watered-down version of Connecticut’s bear management bill passed the House Friday in a 115-32 vote.
The bill, which invited controversy earlier in the session for a now-scrapped proposal for an annual black bear hunt, includes provisions to allow for the killing of bears in specific self-defense or nuisance circumstances. It also bars the feeding of potentially dangerous wildlife, but lawmakers opted Friday to discard a measure to prohibit unintentional feeding.
The amendment was opposed by lawmakers who felt that it would deplete the effectiveness of the bill by striking language that would have allowed officers to issue infractions to individuals who inadvertently attracted dangerous wildlife by scattering or leaving out unsecured food sources, including birdfeeders.
“The whole idea … was to put the public on notice that not only is it a problem — and a serious problem — when bears are fed intentionally, but it is also a serious problem when they are fed unintentionally,” Rep. Mike Demicco said. “I am quite mystified as to why we would remove that language from the bill.”
Rep. Mary Mushinsky agreed.
“I would predict that we will still have a problem with bears as long as people are allowed to put food in unsecured dumpsters and unsecured trash cans … and bird feeders for that matter,” Mushinsky said. “We are going to deal with bears continuously as long as they have people food easily available.”
The legislation authorizes the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner to issue permits allowing property owners and lessees to kill wildlife “that threatens or causes damage to agricultural crops, livestock or apiaries,” once nonlethal efforts have been exhausted and a DEEP investigation determines that killing the wildlife is necessary.
It also permits the use of deadly force to kill bears that are, or imminently likely to, inflict “great bodily harm” to a person or pet. Bears entering an occupied building may also be killed.
The bill passed the Senate on May 18 in a 31-3 vote.
Rep. David Michel, who voted against the bear bill, took issue with the self-defense provisions saying, “For some people just seeing a bear is a reasonable threat.”
Rep. Pat Callahan, who said a goat-soap maker recently had “a bear attack one of her goats and take it by the throat and almost kill it,” said the self-defense measure is crucial.
“I don’t want that to happen to a citizen of Connecticut or people’s pets or their livestock. I don’t want them second guessing whether they can defend themselves or their pets or their property. And that’s what this bill does,” Callahan said. “We need to do more about educating the public and, and making sure that those food sources are curtailed. But this is just taking away second guessing to defend what we love. And I do not want to see someone, a human being killed here or anywhere else by a bear in Connecticut. And I think this is a good first step.”
With the state’s black bear population reaching an estimated 1,000 to 1,200, DEEP recorded more than 9,300 bear conflicts between 2020 and 2022, including 67 home invasions and two attacks on humans in the last year.
Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw noted that some of the most high-profile human-bear conflicts occurred in her district of Avon.
“Just in the last month alone, we had a 74-year-old woman who was bit on her arm and her leg. A few days after that, there was a bear inside someone’s home. A few days after that we had a bear inside of a bakery … and then after that it’s two bears at a Memorial Day parade where people are along a parade route,” Kavros DeGraw said. “It’s not a perfect bill, but it is something, and we desperately need something to help us mitigate this issue because at some point somebody is really going to get harmed.”
Rep. Melissa Osborne, and other lawmakers on both sides of the bear debate signaled that this will not be the last bear abatement proposal to pass through the legislature.
“We are going to be back here again, doing this again next year and next year and next year until we have bear management practice that actually reduces bear habituation and reduces human-bear conflict,” Osborne said. “I do hope we get to do it before there is a real tragedy in this state.”
There was a special send-off at Bradley International Airport on Saturday as dozens of veterans took part in Honor Flight Connecticut.
The 70 veterans and 50 guardians left from the airport with Honor Flight staff for their journey to Washington, DC.
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Honor Flight Connecticut brings military veterans to Washington, DC, to visit memorials that commemorate their service and recognizes those who have served our country.
The veterans who participated in Saturday’s honor flight served in the Korean and Vietnam wars and represent the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
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The group is scheduled to arrive back in Connecticut later Saturday evening.
A 14-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital Friday night after police said they were hit by a car.
The teen was hit around 7:15 by the Municipal Stadium on Watertown Avenue around the time of kickoff for the Wilby High School game against Derby.
Police did not say if the teen was on their way to the game.
The driver and passenger, a 75-year-old man and 73-year-old woman, remained on scene and neither were injured.
The teen was taken to an area hospital where he is listed in critical but stable condition, with life threatening injuries.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the acciden.
The land search for the Connecticut Renaissance Faire is still ongoing, but the faire is going on.
The CT Renaissance Faire announced in the spring it was looking for a new venue to call home. It has been at the Lebanon Lions’ Fairgrounds since 2017. With attendance as high as 50,000 for it’s seven weekends, the Faire wants its own property to call home. The 65 or more acres of land the Faire is looking for would provide plenty of parking, space for permanent structures, and the possibility of off-season events.
The Faire has a property it has set its sights on but is still considering other properties. Months into the search, The Faire is still getting suggestions and towns interested in working with them.
“It’s finding the right land in those towns that can be difficult,” Tetreault said.
However, it will stay in eastern Connecticut because “it’s where we’ve been most of the time we’ve existed,” Tetreault said.
“We really like it here,” he said.
While the new home is supposed to be for the 2025 season, it may take longer to get going. There is no set time to make a final decision, and the Faire may need permits that take up to 18 months to finalize.
“We will see how that goes,” Tetreault said.
How’s this season going?
This season has been well attended. While Tetreault didn’t have exact numbers, most days have seen a 30% attendance increase compared to last year. The Faire offering affordable tickets and food contributes to this increase, he said.
“It’s exciting to see the younger people responding so well to the Faire,” Tetreault said.
The first weekend in October is Time Travelers Weekend, where science fiction will be included in the fun. Oct. 5 includes a cosplay costume contest, and an adults-only, costume required Halloween party after hours. Oct. 6 is specifically Doctor Who themed, with a Dr. Who cosplay contest and photo ops with The TARDIS, the vehicle the Doctors use to travel space and time.
The following weekend is All Hallows Eve Weekend. Oct. 12 will feature an evil laugh and scary scream contest, safe trick-or-treating, and the all-ages Halloween Knights after party. Oct. 13 will feature a costume contest for kids 15 and under, and Oct. 14 will feature a costume contest where everyone dresses as Mrs. Roper from the sitcom Three’s Company.
Oct. 19 and 20 is the Grand Finale Weekend and will feature talent shows both days. A variety of performers will be there or some or all of these weekends, per the Faire’s website.
If you go:
Tickets: General admission is $16, with discounts for children 15 and under. Dogs with proof of vaccination are admitted for $5. Buy your tickets online to save time.
When is the Faire open? The Faire is open weekends until Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. It will also be open on Indigenous Peoples Day, Oct. 14.
What is there to eat? From savory pies to sweet treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out the list of food and beverage vendors so you don’t miss anyone on your list.
What about entertainment? Here is the show schedule. In addition there are plenty of medieval activities to do and watch, from jousting, to knighting ceremonies, to sword swallowing (don’t try this at home, kids), to aerial acrobats (Oct. 5-20 only), and all are included with your admission.
What’s the address? 122 Mack Road, Lebanon
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