More Black Bear Sightings Reported In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Black bears continue to be out and about in Stratford, with two recent sightings reported in addition to several others earlier in June.

A bear was seen the morning of June 23 in the area where Main Street meets River Road, Stratford Patch reader Larry Canapetti said in a Facebook comment, to which reader Ann Bradley Baker replied that a black bear had been spotted on Wakelee Avenue later that evening.

The comments were in response to a Stratford Patch story about a black bear seen the night of June 22 outside Flood Middle School. Other recent reports include a bear on a deck on Fox Hill Road, two bear sightings around St. Mark’s Church and scatological evidence in a backyard.

While only two sightings in Stratford were reported to the state between June 2019 and March 2020, much of Connecticut's landscape is suitable for black bears, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The state experienced a surge in the bear population between the 1980s and early 2000s that is expected to continue.

Residents who see a bear are advised to shout and wave their arms or walk away slowly, and refrain from feeding or attracting the animal. 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.