BLACK BEARS IN CONNECTICUT/REPORT A BLACK BEAR SIGHTING

FACTS:

• Black bears have a keen sense of smell and hearing
• Black bears travel and feed primarily at night, but can be active any time of the day
• Black bears are generally shy and secretive and usually afraid of humans, however, if they regularly find food near houses and areas of human activity, they can lose their fear of humans
• Unlike grizzly bears, black beans are seldom aggressive towards humans
• Black bears can run up to 35 miles per hour

TO AVOID ATTRACTING BEARS:

• Discontinue feeding of birds from late March through November
• Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store inside a garage or shed
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight
• Thoroughly clean grills after use
• Never intentionally feed bear
• Do not put meat or sweet-smelling fruit rinds in compost piles

IF YOU SEE A BEAR WHEN HIKING OR CAMPING:

• Make noise and wave your arms to make your presence known
• Keep dogs on a leash and under control
• Walk away slowly if you surprise a bear nearby
• Don’t cook food near your tent or store food inside your tent
• Don’t climb a tree, but wait in a vehicle or building for the bear to leave

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING BLACK BEARS AND TO REPORT BEAR SIGHTINGS:

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection – Black Bear
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325930&depNav_GID=1655

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SOURCE: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: December2012