Black Bear Roaming Around Westville Now Back In The Woods

WESTVILLE, CT — Overheard: Mail carrier and neighbor talking about a big black bear down the block. Confirm: Yes, a black bear was sighted in Edgewood Park and photographed Wednesday morning.

Then, a message on Facebook: It's been seen on West Rock, Alston, McKinley, and Marvel streets.

Wait. Marvel? That's my block!

Black bears are not an uncommon sight in Connecticut. Indeed, in the past year, more than 5,000 bear sightings were reported to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. But of those, there was just one in New Haven. One.

Until today.

Patch reached out to state wildlife officials and police for more information.

New Haven Police Department Capt. Anthony Duff said that at around 7:30 a.m., officers responded to calls of a bear sighting initially reported in the area of Edgewood Avenue between Central Avenue and West Rock Avenue.

Patrol officers located the black bear and notified the Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection who advised police to monitor the bear until it returned safely to a wooded area.

A NHPD officer followed the bear as it traveled in the Westville neighborhood. By 8:00 a.m., the bear crossed Forest Road and entered a wooded area west of Forest Road and Roger Road near the West Haven town line.

Here's everything you need to know about black bears.

And here are the Do's and Don'ts when it comes to black bears in your 'hood.

Bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and birdfeeders.

DO remove bird feeders and bird food from late March through November.

DO eliminate food attractants by placing garbage cans inside a garage or shed. Add ammonia to trash to make it unpalatable.

DO clean and store grills in a garage or shed after use. (Propane cylinders should be stored outside.)

DON'T intentionally feed bears. Bears that become accustomed to finding food near your home may become "problem" bears.

DON'T approach or try to get closer to a bear to get a photo or video.

DON'T leave pet food outside overnight.

DON'T add meat or sweets to a compost pile.