Bear Devoured Corn Harvest At East Lyme Farm: Report

EAST LYME, CT — A bear is suspected in devouring the first corn harvest of the year at an East Lyme farm, according to The New London Day. Colin Scott, of Scott's Yankee Farmer, said he found a 20-foot section of corn that had been ransacked, with ears of corn that had been shucked all the way down.

The bear also left scat as big as two fists, the farmer told The New London Day. There have been several bear sightings reported on the East Lyme Community Forum Facebook page, and the Scott family said they knew exactly which bear had visited their fields.

Black bears can be found throughout the state, and their population is on the rise, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The increase in bear sightings is related to the animals becoming more habituated to man-made structures and human behavior

It's recommended that residents stow their bird feeders to avoid encounters. Not only do they attract bears, but reward them for coming close to your home. That same guidance applies to trash cans that aren't tightly covered.

See related: Bear Sightings In CT On The Rise: Town-By-Town Updates