Man Shoots Bear In Self Defense In Canton

CANTON, CT — A business owner in town faced more than just the start of a new work week on Monday morning.

He reportedly had to face an attacking bear, according to a WFSB Channel 3 report citing the Canton Police Department, and was forced to shoot and kill it in self-defense.

According to Channel 3, the incident happened on Cheryl Drive and involved a business owner coming upon a bear in a trash bin.

When reached Monday morning by Patch, the CPD declined to comment and referred all questions to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which is investigating.

DEEP spokesman Paul Copleman confirmed the incident and said DEEP law enforcers are investigating the matter.

"DEEP Wildlife biologists and DEEP EnCon Police responded to a report of a bear killed by an individual in Canton this morning, along with the Canton PD," Copleman wrote.

He said the bear was an untagged, adult male that was feeding in an unsecured dumpster.

Copleman also offered tips on how to reduce bear impacts and how to avoid an encounter with a bear.

They include:

• More information about bear-resistant dumpsters: what-makes-a-dumpster-bear-resistant.pdf (bearwise.org)

• The Basics of Living with Black Bears (ct.gov)

For the full WFSB Channel 3 report, click on this link.

For the full WVIT Channel 30 report, click on this link.

For more information on black bears from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, click on this link.