By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
Black bear sightings in Connecticut have been on the rise for several years. I’m sure you’ve read about or seen videos of their love of “home invasions” over late winter and early spring.
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the black bear population in Connecticut is both increasing and expanding. The population, including juveniles, is estimated at about 1,000 to 1,200 and their territory has expanded from the northwest corner to most areas of the state. Although their natural habitat is forests, where they can enjoy bark and acorns, they also like the wetlands in early spring for the tender plants that grow there.
As woodland habitat is developed, it should be no surprise that we see black bears locally. They have now been spotted in almost every community in the state, including large cities such as Hartford, New Haven and Stamford. I had one enjoying the acorns in my backyard last fall, and he or she was in no hurry to leave, even with my dogs doing their best barking.
They are now so prevalent that it’s important that we know how to coexist happily. Black bears are very large, smart animals with a keen sense of smell and hearing. They can be active any time of the day and they breed in late spring and early summer. The pups are usually born in late winter and stay in the den with mama bear.
Bear avoidance tip one is to make sure you aren’t attracting them. Odor from carelessly stored food, garbage and even compost piles and barbecue grills can lure bears long distances. Remember that keen sense of smell and eliminate as many attractants as possible, such as bird feeders and yummy smells, to reduce the chance that bears will visit you.
According to the DEEP, black bears are seldom aggressive toward humans even when cubs are present, so the DEEP will usually not remove them in suburban or rural settings. Even a female bear will usually send her cubs up a nearby tree while she stands watch beneath if confronted.
If you do have a bear visit, do not approach the bear. In most cases, the bear eventually will make its way to a more natural habitat. However, you can make loud noises (again, from a safe distance) to try to scare it away.
If you accidentally come within very close range of a black bear, the DEEP suggests you slowly back away and quietly retreat. They will sometimes “fake charge” you, and if one does, wave your arms and shout – do not run away. Black bears are omnivores, and per the DEEP attacks on humans are “exceptionally rare.”
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.