On the morning of Friday, May 21, 2021 the Trumbull Police Department and Animal Control received several reports from residents in the areas of Barnswallow Dr., Scenic Hill Rd. and Deer Run reporting a bear getting into garbage and bird feeders. A bear has recently been reported to go to doors of homes to try to get inside, and one incident was reported where a bear went on to a deck while the resident was outside cooking. A homeowner was able to "haze" the bear away and no cubs have been seen with this bear which was last reported on Purdy Hill Rd. in Monroe. Nobody has been injured or made contact with the bear, but we strongly urge residents to be aware and take precautions. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) was notified of these incidents and is in the process of consulting with a bear biologist.
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. 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.