DEEP Encourages Continued Bear Awareness During Fall: Bears Increase Food Intake and Are More Active

New Bear Management Law Took Effect on October 1 

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents to follow best practices to reduce the likelihood of an encounter with a bear this fall, as bears’ quest for more food before the winter makes them very active for the next few months.

Conflicts with bears have tripled over the last five years in Connecticut and bears have been sighted in all of the state’s 169 cities and towns. During fall, bears forage for calorie-packed nuts and seeds for up to 20 hours a day to prepare for the winter. There is plenty of naturally-occurring food for bears to find, however, bird feeders or garbage containers can reward a bear with a day’s worth of calories for less than an hour’s work. Black bears that consume human-associated food (e.g., birdseed, trash, pet food) on a regular basis become habituated and food-conditioned.

Several best practices are available online on DEEP’s “Living with Black Bears” website, https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP-Living-with-Black-Bears. DEEP has also created a video incorporating many of these best practices, available here.

Make Your Place a No-Bear-Food-Zone

If you encounter a bear while in your yard or hiking, make your presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. Never attempt to get closer to a bear. If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area. If in your yard, go into your house, garage, or other structure. If the bear persistently approaches, go on the offensive—shout, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks. If your dog is hiking with you, it is imperative that you keep the dog on a SHORT leash and DO NOT let it roam free – this is for the safety of your dog, yourself, and the bear. 

1. NEVER feed bears.
2. If you choose to put out bird feeders, do so in the winter months from December through late-March when bears are in their dens. Although most bears enter dens at some point, some can remain active for portions of or the entire winter season if food is available. It is important to clean up spilled seeds from the ground when feeding over winter and remove bird feeders at the first sign of bear activity. If you live in an area with bears, it is best to avoid bird feeders altogether.
3. Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Adding ammonia to cans and inside bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
4. Do not store leftover bird seed, suet cakes, or recyclables in a porch or screened sunroom as bears can smell these items and will rip screens to get at them.
5. Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed (and remove any fuel source before storing).
6. Supervise dogs at all times when outside. Keep dogs on a short leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs. (Dogs are required to be on a leash when visiting State Parks, State Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas. Check dog and leash regulations for town properties, land trusts, and other public properties before heading to those areas.)
7. Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside.
8. Use electric fencing to protect beehives, agricultural crops, berry bushes, chickens, and other livestock.
9. Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods, such as fruit and fruit peels, in compost piles.
10. Never toss leftover food outside “for the animals to clean up,” as that can be a source of food for bears.

In the rare instance when a bear appears to be aggressive toward people, residents should immediately contact DEEP’s 24-hour dispatch line at 860-424-3333.

New Law for Bear Management and Permitted Take

In 2023, Senate Bill 1149/Public Act 23-77 passed, and will provide creative strategies to address increasing conflicts caused by Connecticut’s expanding black bear population.

The new law allows the issuance of permits for bear damage related to agricultural crops, livestock, or apiaries when non-lethal efforts are unreasonable or ineffective, bans the intentional feeding of potentially dangerous animals (including bears), and establishes the right to use deadly force to defend oneself, other people, and one’s pets if attacked, in certain circumstances. DEEP has launched a frequently asked questions webpage about the new law: Bear Management in CT: Regulatory Timeline