On Wednesday morning, May 26, 2021, the Trumbull Police Department and Animal Control Office received reports of bear sightings on Deer Run Dr. and Putting Green Rd. where a bear was seen getting very close to a home, and another moving near a residential swimming pool. Recently, there have been several bear sightings in Trumbull to include the Indian Ledge Park and the Tashua areas of town.
On the morning of Friday, May 21, there were also reports from residents in the areas of Barnswallow Drive and Scenic Hill Road reporting a bear getting into garbage and bird feeders. One of these reports stated that a bear even went onto a deck while the resident was outside cooking on a grill.
There has been more than one bear observed in these areas, one of which was spotted with small cubs. Another had previously been tagged with #211, and was known to have been in the West Hartford, CT area. Nobody has been injured or made contact with the bear, but residents are strongly urged to be aware of these circumstances and to take precautions.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been notified of these incidents, and has even assigned a bear biologist to work together on these matters.
The following information was obtained from the DEEP website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Black-Bear
If You See a Bear
- Observe 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 or call (860) 424-3011.
Bears Near your Home
In wilderness settings, bears usually avoid people. However, 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 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.