BARKHAMSTED, CT — A vehicle hit a bear Thursday night on Ripley Hill Road, according to state police.
The driver was not injured in the collision, which happened around 10:23 p.m., police said.
The bear was no longer at the scene when a state trooper arrived, and police said they don’t know how badly the animal was injured.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s 2026 The State of the Bears report estimates there are up to 1,200 bears in the state, with bear sightings most common in the northwestern section.
The recent three-year average of bears killed by vehicles in Connecticut is 69, the report shows.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Across Connecticut Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.