More Bear Sightings In Stratford, Mayor Says

STRATFORD, CT — Bear sightings have been reported throughout the summer in Stratford, and the animals are continuing to make appearances in town as Labor Day approaches, according to an email from the mayor's office.

“There have been a few sightings of black bears recently in neighborhood areas in Stratford,” said the email, sent to residents Wednesday from the office of Mayor Laura Hoydick.

So far this year, 36 bear sightings in Stratford have been reported, according to an interactive map hosted by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. In recent months, Patch readers have reported seeing bears outside Flood Middle School, near St. Mark's Church and, in one instance, in a resident’s yard near Roosevelt Forest, among other locations.

The email from Hoydick's office included recommendations from the environmental department about living near bears.

Residents should:

• Remove bird feeders and bird food from late March through November.
• Put garbage cans inside a garage or shed, adding ammonia to trash to make it unpalatable.
• Clean and store grills in a garage or shed after use.

Residents should not:

• Feed bears. Bears that become accustomed to finding food near a home may become a problem.
• Approach a bear or try to get closer for a photo or video.
• Leave pet food outside overnight.
• Add meat or sweets to a compost pile.
• Store leftover birdseed or recyclables in a porch or screened sun room. Bears can smell the items and will rip screens to get them.

Much of Connecticut's landscape is suitable for black bears, according to the environmental department. The state experienced a surge in the bear population between the 1980s and early 2000s that is expected to continue.

To report a bear sighting to the state wildlife division, visit bit.ly/3dTyyyE or call 860-424-3011. For more information on how to handle bears near your home, visit portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Black-Bear.