Bears Entering Homes At An Alarming Rate As New Town-By-Town Numbers Released In CT

A Bethlehem man recently fought a bear for 40 minutes after it attacked his pet goat. A bear in Winchester was euthanized after repeatedly breaking into homes. An Avon dog was attacked by a bear.

Those were just some of the bear-human encounters reported across Connecticut in June as wildlife officials warn the incidents are part of a growing trend.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has confirmed 31 home entries so far in 2026, putting the state on pace to rival 2024, when Connecticut set a record for residential bear break-ins.

DEEP's Wildlife Sighting Public Viewer has logged more than 6,100 reported bear sightings statewide in 2026.

Explore the interactive map below to see how many bear sightings have been reported in your town this year:

Home entries are increasing over time, although numbers fluctuate from year to year based on weather and other factors, according to DEEP spokesperson Bill Flood.

"We are seeing high rates of home entries because our bear population is becoming increasingly habituated (comfortable around people) and food-conditioned (learned they can find food around people, homes, yards and businesses)," Flood said.

He said unsecured trash and bird feeders are the two biggest reasons bears become food-conditioned because they repeatedly reward bears with easy meals.

That trend is reflected in DEEP's own data. Among reported human-bear conflicts statewide this year:

• 640 Trash-related bear conflicts
• 363 Bird feeder-related bear conflicts
• 189 Reports of structural damage
• 81 Poultry-related conflicts

• 75 Vegetation-related conflicts

The numbers reinforce what DEEP officials say is driving many bear encounters: easy access to food around homes.

While the recent incidents have drawn attention, DEEP says black bears are typically shy animals that avoid people and rarely behave aggressively.

Most encounters end without injury, but officials say bears that repeatedly find food near homes can lose their natural wariness and become more inclined to enter neighborhoods.

To ensure both residents' and bears' safety, people can take steps to minimize the risk of wildlife encounters.

Flood suggests cleaning grills, securing trash, feeding pets indoors and keeping doors closed and windows locked if you are away from home, even briefly.

"Screen doors and windows will not stop a hungry bear from investigating food smells," he said. "They have a much better sense of smell than we do."

If a bear crashes Fourth of July gatherings over the holiday weekend, Flood advised making noise, backing away slowly and if the bear does not retreat, heading into a house or car.

"Never waste time trying to get a picture or video clip," he added. "Use that time to scare the bear. It's safer for them and safer for our neighborhoods."