Black Bear Sighting Reported In Waterford: PD

WATERFORD, CT — Police said Waterford officers responded Sunday night to reports of a black bear sighting in the area of Route 85.

According to the New London Day, police said the bear came out of the woods but immediately returned to them.

In light of the sighting, police remind residents to keep in mind the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection'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.

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