Black Bear Spotted In Waterford Backyard: Report

WATERFORD, CT — A resident spotted a black bear in the backyard of a Butlertown Road home late Monday morning, the New London Day reported. The bear was attracted to the yard by a bird feeder, which it grabbed before running into the woods.

In light of the sighting, residents are reminded to keep in mind DEEP's list of "do's and don'ts" concerning bears.

According to DEEP, bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees and birdfeeders. They also normally leave an area once they have sensed a human, as aggression towards humans is exceptionally rare for bears.

"The primary contributing factor to bear nuisance problems is the presence of easily-accessible food sources near homes and businesses," the website says. "Fed bears can become habituated and lose their fear of humans. Bears should never be fed, either intentionally or accidentally."

Anyone who encounters a bear in a densely populated area is asked to contact the DEEP Wildlife Division (860-424-3011, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or DEEP Dispatch (860-424-3333, 24 hours) to report the sighting and obtain advice.

For a full list of DEEP's "do's and don'ts" concerning bears, click here.

Read the full New London Day story here.

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Photo credit: Shutterstock /Not of actual bear spotted in Waterford