Vernon Officials: The Bear Is Back, So Practice Social Distancing

VERNON, CT — Vernon's resident bear (or some bear) seems to be out of the annual winter hiatus and animal control officials are reminding residents to adhere to wildlife social distancing practices if they venture out on the rail trail system this weekend.

"Apparently, he's been spotted," Animal control officer Craig Segar said of the bear — or a bear — Thursday. "If you see him, keep your distance, report the sighting and let him go on his way."

Segar said it is likely a black bear that has been frequenting Vernon's trail system for the past couple of years. That bear seems docile, he said. But he also maintained that it could be a new one, so residents should be extra careful.

"Whichever bear it is, it's that time of the season," he said.

If it's the same bear, he seems to like an area between Bamforth and the area near the rail trail system entrance along the 500 block of Hartford turnpike.

The bear has also been spotted as far down Hartford Turnpike as Dobson Road.

A mom and cubs were briefly seen in town around the same areas last year.

Click here for black bear tips and how to report a sighting to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

There have been three reported sightings in Vernon from the latest state DEEP figures, relased Friday, dating back to March 5, 2019. Segar said his office has received many more reports that were not put into the DEEP records by residents.

See a town-by-town sighting chart here.