Meet a Bear the Safe Way!

Bears have been spotted in every town in Connecticut - and now there is one on display near you! Our life-size BearWise cut-out is on display at select locations throughout the state.

Visit one of our educational bear displays at participating locations, including:

Bristol Public Works at Town Hall
Farmington Valley YMCA
New Hartford Town Hall
New Milford Town Hall
Torrington Town Hall
Warren Town Hall
West Hartford Town Hall
Winchester Town Hall
And more locations across Connecticut!

Grin and bear it!

Spot one of our BearWise displays? Take a selfie and post it to your public Facebook or Instagram account using #BearWiseCT for a chance to win a reusable grocery tote bag or a bear-resistant trash can!

We will randomly choose 50 entries to receive a reusable tote bag, and five grand prize winners will be randomly selected to receive a bear-resistant trash can.

Entries must be posted by November 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. Open to Connecticut residents ages 18 and older. No purchase necessary. Limit one photo entry per household. Additional eligibility requirements and restrictions apply.

Keep bears wild

How to use a bear-resistant trash can

Watch Keep Bears Wild: How to Use a Bear-Resistant Trash Can on DEEP's YouTube channel.

Content last updated on November 3, 2026.