Shoreline Black Bear Raiding Garbage Cans

Black bear #B1 was hanging out on Walnut Hill Road off of Old Toll Road in North Madison Thursday afternoon around 3:15 p.m., Dianne Roberts tells us.

"Neighbors, take in your garbage cans, bird feeders and animals," Dianne said by way of a reminder. "He was cute, but ... "

Very true.

The state Department of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection provides these tips for areas where bears have been sighted:

Much of Connecticut’s landscape is now forested and is suitable for black bears. The rapid increase in the bear population between the 1980s and early 2000s is expected to continue. As the bear population expands, interactions between humans and bears will increase. People should learn what to do if they see a bear and how to avoid unnecessary conflicts by keeping food away from bears.

• Enjoy it from a distance.
  
• Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away.
  
• Never attempt to feed or attract bears.
  
• Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division, at (860) 675-8130.

Bears near your home

In wilderness settings bears usually avoid people. But food attractants near homes can cause them to grow habituated to humans and disturbances, such as dogs and other noises. Bears are attracted by bird feeders, garbage, outdoor pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and berry-producing shrubs.

To avoid attracting bears:

• Remove bird feeders from late March through November. If a bear visits a bird feeder in winter, remove the feeder.
• Wait until the morning of collection before bringing out trash. Add a few capfuls of ammonia to trash bags and garbage cans to mask food odors. Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store in a garage or shed.
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight. Store livestock food in airtight containers.
• Do not put meats or sweet-smelling fruit rinds in compost piles. Lime can be sprinkled on the compost pile to reduce the smell and discourage bears.
• Thoroughly clean grills after use or store in a garage or shed.
• Never intentionally feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become aggressive and dangerous. This may lead to personal injury, property damage, and the need to destroy problem animals.
• Encourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.

If you see a bear on your property you can either leave the bear alone and wait for it to leave or make loud noises from a safe distance to attempt to scare the bear away. After the bear leaves the property, remove anything that may have attracted it to the area.

Several bear sightings reported in Madison, north and south

Dianne tells us that this sighting was reported to Wildlife Division of DEEP. This is one of several sightings of a black bear that Patch readers have reported, in the north and south ends of town, in the past few weeks. On July 10th,

In the comments section of that article, Elinor Wallach reported seeing a black bear, also on Genesee Lane, perhaps the same one. Bruce Joslyn reported that he, "saw a fairly large black bear on Warpas Road near Copse road last week at one in the afternoon. My neighbor on Brookview Terrace had a black bear get into his garbage can about a month ago."

Scott Wilson reported seeing one on Sportsman Hill Road. Jennifer Chaffiotte and her husband reported seeing one and calling the police who, she said, responded "What do you want us to do about it?"

Chaffiotte said the bear they saw was also reported to the DEEP.

See a bear? Report it to the DEEP, make sure it's doesn't start to associate your yard with dinner

Here is what the DEEP wants you to do about it, report it to them (see link and phone number above). And do everything you can to make sure that bears in Madison do not associate your backyard with dinner. Feeding bears, whether on purpose or inadvertently, can create "nuisance bears" that will then have to be dealt with, the DEEP says: 

The DEEP's response will depend on the specifics of each bear situation. The mere presence of a bear does not necessitate its removal. In most cases, if left alone, the bear will make its way to a more natural habitat. Removing food attractants, such as bird feeders, reduces the chance that bears will go near homes. The DEEP seldom relocates bears. An exception may be made to remove a bear in an urban location when there is little likelihood that it can leave safely on its own and when the bear is in a position where it can be safely immobilized. DEEP Tranquilizing Teams, consisting of Environmental Conservation Police officers and wildlife biologists, are trained and equipped to immobilize wildlife. Bears cannot be relocated to another state because no other state allows it. Bears that have persistent, serious, negative behavior, such as killing protected livestock or entering buildings, may have to be destroyed.

As bears become more regular residents of Connecticut towns, it is important that people learn to adapt to the presence of bears and take measures to avoid damage and problems. If people do not take precautions, problem behavior by bears can increase, possibly leading to bears being removed or destroyed.

Have you seen a bear in your neighborhood lately? Let us know in the comments!