Black Bear Kills Goat In Southbury

SOUTHBURY, CT — A bear killed a pigmy goat on Judd Road in Southbury Friday night, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Thursday. The bear ran by power company workers who were working on utilities after last week's nor'easter.

The black bear killed the pigmy goat in an unprotected enclosure, state officials sad. The bear left the dead goat when responding Southbury Police officers shot at it twice, the DEEP said.

DEEP ENCON Police units checked the area but the bear had fled. There was no evidence that the bear was injured by police gunfire, officials said. The bear was later seen running by power company employees working several streets away before going into adjacent wildlife refuge area, the DEEP said.

DEEP Wildlife biologists have spoken with the family to explain how best to protect their livestock and "we will be working to set a trap to move the bear to another area."

Those with livestock are reminded that bears do occasionally attack livestock, such as chickens, goats, etc. and damage beehives. Those with livestock are reminded to protect their livestock with electric fencing and move livestock into barns at night if possible.

For more information on black bears and tips that residents should know visit: www.ct.gov/deep/blackbear<http://www.ct.gov/deep/blackbear>

Patch file photo