Black Bear Sightings Reported In Greenwich: Police

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Police Department on Monday said they've recently received several calls for service regarding black bear sightings in the mid-country area of Greenwich.

Residents can report sightings to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT-DEEP). If it's an emergency, 911 should be called for the Greenwich dispatch center.

According to CT-DEEP, black bears were extirpated from the state by the mid-1800s, but the animal made a comeback due in part to the regrowth of forestland throughout the region following the abandonment of farms in the late 19th century.

Since the 1980s, annual sighting reports have increased dramatically, indicating a rapid increase in the population, CT-DEEP says on its website.

Overall, there have been over 7,000 bear sightings reported in Connecticut so far in 2023, CT-DEEP's wildlife tracker shows. There have been 14 such sightings in Greenwich this year.

For tips on how to avoid attracting bears and what to do if you encounter a bear on your property, click here.