VIDEO: Bear Visits Southington Senior Center, Stunning Guests

SOUTHINGTON, CT — An unexpected visitor was spotted Thursday at Southington's Calendar House Senior Center, prompting officials to remind visitors to stay alert while using the facility's outdoor areas.

The Calendar House posted a 14-second video on Facebook Thursday afternoon showing a bear walking on the property at 388 Pleasant St.

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"We had an unexpected visitor at Calendar House today!" the senior center wrote. "Please keep your eyes open when utilizing outdoor amenities such as the walking path, pickleball court and patio."

The sighting comes as Connecticut's black bear population continues to expand, bringing bears into more residential areas, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

DEEP says the presence of a bear alone generally does not mean the animal needs to be removed.

In most cases, a bear that is left alone will eventually make its way toward more natural habitat.

State wildlife officials advise residents to remove potential food sources, including bird feeders, that could attract bears to homes and other populated areas.

Connecticut's increasingly forested landscape provides suitable habitat for black bears, and DEEP expects interactions between people and bears to increase as the population grows.

What to do if you see a bear

DEEP recommends that people who encounter a bear:

• Observe the animal from a distance.
• Make the bear aware of your presence by shouting and waving your arms, or slowly walk away.
• Never attempt to feed or attract a bear.
• Report bear sightings to DEEP's Wildlife Division.

DEEP says residents can reduce conflicts by keeping food away from bears and taking precautions as the animals become increasingly common in Connecticut communities.

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