Joseph Darrow and his fiance were having dinner at their home on Bogue Lane in East Haddam on Sunday when they witnessed a black bear coming out of the woods and into their back yard. The bear walked straight from the woods and directly to their outside garbage cans, Darrow said.
"He did not hesitate to grab a whole bag of garbage and make his way back into the woods."
The couple took photos through their window and notified the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) of the sighting.
The bear did not appear to be tagged and the DEEP told the couple that although black bears are not uncommon to the NW region of CT, East Haddam was of interest to them if sightings continue.
"Although we were excited to see nature in its wild, we thought it may be a good idea to let you (Patch) know and help send word to our surrounding neighbors of the possibility of bear sightings," Darrow said.
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The DEEP advises you to do the following if you see a bear:
- 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.
State DEEP officials say black bear sightings continue to increase in Connecticut:
As Connecticut’s bear population continues to increase, more bears, particularly young bears, will be seen near residential areas. 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.
