The Basics of Living with Black Bears

Black Bear header

Black bears are increasingly common in Connecticut. Reports of bear sightings, even in heavily populated residential areas, are on the rise. The Wildlife Division has also seen an increase in the number of reported conflicts with black bears. All residents should take time to become “BearWise” and learn about best practices to both reduce the likelihood of an encounter with a bear and know what to do in the event of an encounter.

Black Bear Fact Sheet

BearWise Brief - Meet the American Black Bear

Prevention is the only effective, long-term solution for human/bear conflicts!

The primary contributing factor to human-bear conflicts is the presence of easily-accessible food sources near homes and businesses. Black bears that consume human-associated food (e.g., birdseed, trash, pet food) on a regular basis become habituated (comfortable near people) and food-conditioned (associate humans, houses, and neighborhoods with food). As the bear population continues to grow and expand its range in Connecticut, and bears become increasingly food conditioned, conflicts will continue to increase. Food-conditioned bears pose a greater risk to public safety and often cause more property damage to houses, cars, pets, and livestock.

Connecticut residents should take the following simple steps to prevent human-caused conflicts with black bears. You can also use our Be BearWise Checklist to learn what attracts bears and how you can keep bears way from your home and property.

Bears near your home

Bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and birdfeeders. Make your place a "No-Bear-Food-Zone"!

NEVER feed bears! Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in Connecticut.
Avoid putting out birdfeeders (including hummingbird and suet feeders) at any time of year. Birdfeeders are an attractant to bears (even during the winter denning season). Feeders that hang empty are still a visual attractant and contain residual scents that bears can smell. Bears are typically less active from mid-December through the end of February, so birdfeeders may be put out during that timeframe in areas with no bear activity. However, if a bear visits your feeders take them down immediately and do not put them back up. The best way to support birds is to plant ecologically valuable native plants, which provide food and shelter year-round and benefit far more species than bird seed and sugar water. Adding a clean source of water with a bird bath will also help birds and create enjoyable viewing opportunities. BearWise also provides tips on how to attract birds and not bears. Several municipalities (such as Simsbury) have ordinances regarding feeding birds during certain times of the year.
Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or other enclosed storage area. Adding ammonia to trash cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Do not store recyclables in a porch or screened sunroom as bears can smell these items and will break through screens to get at them. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
Invest in a bear-resistant trash can. Properly designed bear-resistant containers are a proven method for breaking the habituation cycle by preventing bears from easily accessing human food. Discuss options for bear-resistant trash receptacles with your local trash hauler as they can be compatible with trash collection trucks.
Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed and remove any fuel source before storing.
Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside. (Dogs + Bears = Problems)
Always supervise pets when outside.
Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods, such as fruit and fruit peels, in compost piles.
If you see a bear in your yard, do not approach it! Go into your house, garage, or other structure. If the bear persistently approaches, go on the offensive—shout, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks. Learn how to safely scare a bear.

Home Break-ins

If you leave the doors and windows of your home open and unlocked, bears can easily gain entry to your home, causing property damage to stored food, furniture, and other household items. Having a bear drop in unexpectedly can be scary. It only takes a few minutes to lock up; it takes a lot longer to clean up after a bear visit. (The two-second solution that keeps stuff safe and bears wild from BearWise)

Don’t leave anything with an odor inside a screened-in porch, on or under the deck, or near the garage doors and windows.
Make sure kitchen trash cans have a lid to decrease permeating odors.
If your garage has a flimsy panel door, it is best not to store anything with an odor inside, including freezers and refrigerators.
If you live in or are visiting an area with a lot of bear activity, close and lock ground-floor windows and doors when possible, but especially prior to leaving the house. Be mindful of locking upper level windows and doors that might be accessible to bears that climb stairs, ladders, or wooden porch posts. Locking screen doors doesn’t do much good since a curious or hungry bear can break through a screen.

Watch this video on Managing Food, Garbage, and Other Attractants

Bears and vehicles

Leaving car and truck windows open and doors unlocked is an invitation for bears to come on in and see if there’s anything good to eat. Black bears are very strong with nimble claws and can easily open most unlocked car doors or peel down a window that is open just an inch or two. But once inside, bears often have to chew and claw their way out, creating extensive damage to a vehicle.

Clean Up, Roll Up, Lock Up

Get everyone in the habit of cleaning out your vehicle when you get out of it. Don’t leave pet food, bird seed, snacks, trash, chewing gum, candy, scented air fresheners, sunscreen, lip balm, hand lotion or anything else with an odor inside, even for a few hours, or sitting in the truck bed.
Avoid scented air fresheners.
Lock vehicle doors and roll up and lock your windows, even if you are just parked in your driveway or in front of your vacation rental or campsite. This will also deter opportunistic humans up to no good.
If you are away from home and must leave a cooler, picnic basket, or other goodies in your vehicle, close windows, lock up and store stuff out of sight. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in bear country, consider investing in a bear-resistant cooler.

The two-second solution that keeps stuff safe and bears wild (BearWise)

Bears and hiking

Bears in natural settings normally leave an area once they have sensed a human. If you see a bear, enjoy it from a distance. Aggression by bears towards humans is exceptionally rare.

Hike in groups and make noise periodically.
If you see a bear before it sees you, do not approach the bear. Stay still and then back away quietly.
If you encounter a bear while hiking and it is aware of you, make your presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. Wave your arms over your head. Back away slowly and do not run or climb a tree. If the bear keeps approaching you, use bear spray (make sure you know how to use bear spray before heading out on your hike). Black bears rarely attack humans. If you are attacked, do not play dead. Fight back aggressively with anything available.
Keep dogs on a short leash when walking and hiking. This is for the safety of your dog, yourself, and the bear. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs. (Dogs are required to be on a leash when visiting State Parks, State Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas. Check dog and leash regulations for town properties, land trusts, and other public properties before heading to those areas.)(BearWise Outdoors - Dogs+Bears=Trouble)

Bears and camping

Black bears can be attracted to campgrounds by the presence and odor of food and trash at campsites. You can take some simple steps to keep bears from becoming conditioned to finding food at campgrounds, and also to discourage them from getting into your gear:

Keep a clean camp.
Do not store food, trash, clothes worn when cooking, or toiletries in your tent or camper.
Store all food, coolers, cooking supplies, equipment, and toiletries in approved bear-resistant containers OR out of sight in a locked vehicle. Storing items in a locked trunk is best. Cover anything that a bear might be able to see through a window. Bears are very smart and often recognize coolers and grocery bags as good places to find food. If you must store stuff in an open pickup bed, invest in a sturdy bear-resistant cooler that can be secured in place.
Do not feed or approach bears.
If you see a bear, get to a safe place and make loud noises to scare it.
Report bear sightings to the campground manager or park ranger.

Campground Safety - BearWise tips to avoid bear encounters (Prevencion de riesgos en el campamento)

Camping in bear country? What to know before you go (BearWise)

Outdoor Safety Resources

Watch this video on How to React if You Encounter a Black Bear Outdoors

Bears, livestock, beehives, and crops

Bears occasionally attack livestock (chickens, goats, etc.) and damage beehives and crops.

Protect livestock with electric fencing and move livestock into barns at night if possible.
Reinforce beehives to prevent them from being knocked over and protect them with electric fencing.
Deterrents for crops include electric fencing, guard animals, and scare devices.

Watch this video on Preventing Wildlife Conflicts with Electric Fencing

Deterring Bears with Electric Fencing - information about workshops on installing electric fencing.
Electric Fence Tips for Bears (informational card)
Electric Fences Keep Bears Out - BearWise Bulletin on how to install an electric fence to protect livestock and beehives.
Raising Chickens in Bear Country - BearWise Bulletin on how to protect chickens from bears.
Keep Bears Out: Livestock, Bees, Crops, Orchards - Tips from BearWise
Keep Chickens Safe Poster

Black Bear Agricultural Damage - The Connecticut General Assembly enacted Public Act 23-77 during the 2023 legislative session, creating a new authorization for permits to be issued by DEEP to take wildlife that “threatens or causes damage to agricultural crops, livestock or apiaries". This webpage lays out a structured approach that individuals should take to protect their agricultural products from bears in Connecticut.

When bears come to visit

Young Black Bear in Tree

If a bear is seen in your town or neighborhood, leave it alone. In most situations, if left alone and given an avenue for escape, the bear will usually wander back into more secluded areas. Keep dogs under control. Stay away from the bear and advise others to do the same. Do not approach the bear to take a photo or video. Often a bear will climb a tree to avoid people. A crowd of bystanders will only stress the bear and also add the risk that the bear will be chased into traffic or the crowd of people.

When/how you should report a bear sighting or encounter

You see a bear at a safe distance in your yard or on the trail: Bear sightings reported by the public provide valuable information to assist DEEP in monitoring changes in the black bear population. Anyone who observes a black bear in Connecticut is encouraged to report the sighting on DEEP’s online reporting website or send an email to deep.wildlife@ct.gov. Information on the presence or absence of ear tags, including tag color and numbers, is particularly valuable. A common misconception is that a tagged bear is one that was involved in a conflict, and a bear with two ear tags was caught on two different occasions because of conflicts. Every bear receives two ear tags (one in each ear) the first time it is handled by DEEP biologists. Most tagged bears have been caught as part of a project researching the state’s bear population. (Learn more about ear tags)
A bear has damaged your property or you have specific questions about bears: Contact the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011.
If a bear is in a densely populated area, contact the DEEP Wildlife Division (860-424-3011, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM) or DEEP Dispatch (860-424-3333, 24 hours) to report the sighting and obtain advice. The mere presence of a bear does not necessitate its removal. However, the department may attempt to remove bears from urban locations when there is little likelihood that they will leave on their own and when they are in positions where immobilization is feasible. The department attempts to monitor bear activity in developed areas in coordination with local public safety officials. Coordination and cooperation with officials on the scene and local police officials is a key, critical ingredient in educating the public and assuring a safe, desirable outcome in such a situation.
In the rare instance when a bear appears to be aggressive toward people, or other immediate public safety concerns involving a bear: Contact DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police via DEEP’s 24-hour emergency dispatch line at 860-424-3333.

Connecticut is a member of BearWise -- Helping people live responsibly with bears!

NEW! Action Plan for Communities in Bear Country - Find out how communities can work together to keep people and property safe and bears wild.

BearWise Kid's Corner

BearWise Coloring Page - What's Wrong with this Picture
SPANISH BearWise Coloring Page - What's Wrong with this Picture
BearWise Activity Set

The CT DEEP Wildlife Division has partnered with BearWise, a national program of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. BearWise provides reliable information and useful resources that help people live responsibly with bears.

The State of the Bears - A Briefing on Bears in Connecticut

State of the Bears report call out

Get all the information on bears in Connecticut including bear population, conflicts, feeding ordinances, comparisons with other states, and the best ways to coexist with black bears.