Bear Invades Simsbury Home Friday Afternoon: Police

SIMSBURY, CT — A Simsbury resident found an unwelcome guest invade the house, with police being called to handle the home invasion.

Only negotiating with the suspect proved to be difficult. The invader was a bear.

At 12:49 p.m. Friday, the Simsbury Police Department said it received a 911 call from the owner of an Old Canal Way residence regarding a bear in the house.

The dispatcher told the caller to go to a safe location while the furry, sharp-toothed creature holed up in the house, police said.

When police officers arrived, the creature was still making itself at home, reportedly crawling into the house via an open window on the back deck.

Hungry, the bear then ransacked the house in search of food, police said.

Meanwhile, police called the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for much-needed mutual aid.

DEEP officers responded and determined the bear's lengthy exposure inside the house meant it had to be euthanized so as not to be a future threat, police said, adding this is part of standard black bear response guidelines.

As a result, police said, DEEP officers were able to euthanize the bear after it left the house.

"This is an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public at this time," police wrote on Friday afternoon. "As a friendly reminder, please do not approach bears or other large wildlife.

"If an animal becomes aggressive and/or you become concerned for the safety of yourself or others, please call 911."

Simsbury police thanked DEEP for their response.

For more information on bears in Connecticut, click on this link.