Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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06/07/2017

Female Bear Euthanized by DEEP Environmental Conservation Police

DEEP Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police have euthanized the female bear that approached and swiped a woman at a park in Simsbury this afternoon.
The bear was tracked by DEEP after the incident with the aid of a signal from a GPS collar that had been placed on it during studies of bears in hibernation that the Agency conducts to monitor and assess the health of this species.
The bear was located and shot near the area where the encounter with the woman occurred.
DEEP officials said the bear was euthanized in keeping with a policy of taking such action when a bear exhibits aggressive behavior.
There were two six-month old cubs with this sow.  DEEP Wildlife biologists say the cubs are mature enough to survive on their own.
DEEP took action to euthanize the bear following a report from a 41-year old Simsbury woman who told EnCon Police that the bear took a swipe at her while she was hiking and jogging in Town Forest Park, Simsbury, shortly before 2 p.m. today.
EnCon Police say the woman had scratches on the back side of her upper legs.
The woman told EnCon Police that she was on a trail in the park with her black Labrador Retriever on a leash when she came around a corner and encountered the bear.  The woman said she shouted to try and scare the bear off, and when the bear did not move, she turned to get away from it.  At that point, she said, the bear approached her and swiped at her.
For more details on bears in CT, see the DEEP Fact Sheet.
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