Bear Gets Into West Hartford House: Update

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A black bear gave a homeowner quite the fright after it decided to check out a human den in town Friday morning.

A bear made it inside a High Wood Road residence thorough a rear sliding screen door, police said.

Homeowner Jeff Grody heard a sound from the other room and saw a full-grown black bear in the den area of the home.

He quickly left and called 911, but the bear managed to find its own way out. A neighbor witnessed the bear leave the scene.

"There was no other damage to the house and, to everyone's knowledge, did not eat any food or sleep in anyone's bed," said Capt. Jeff Rose.

There was no damage to the house, and the bear did not drink nectar from a hummingbird feeder.

According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection there have been 5,529 bear sightings in the past year in Connecticut.

At the top of the heap is Avon with 556, Farmington, 432, Simsbury, 271, Canton, 254, Southbury, 202, West Hartford, 199, Woodbury, 157, Granby, 142, Middlebury, 108 and Newtown, 105.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection offers residents some safety tips when dealing with bears.

Besides not taking selfies with bears, and yes, apparently that is a thing, the DEEP says the primary contributing factor to bear nuisance problems is the presence of easily accessible food sources near homes and businesses.

Bears’ main food sources are fruits, nuts, seeds and plants, all of which are easily found in people’s yards or gardens.

Bears should also never be fed, either intentionally or accidentally. Fed bears can become habituated and lose their fear of humans.

The DEEP website lists a number of things to do and not do when dealing with bears in the area, including:

• DO remove bird feeders and bird food from late March through November.
• DO eliminate food attractants by placing garbage cans inside a garage or shed. Add ammonia to trash to make it unpalatable.
• DO clean and store grills in a garage or shed after use.
• DON'T intentionally feed bears. Bears that become accustomed to finding food near your home may become "problem" bears.
• DON'T approach or try to get closer to a bear to get a photo or video.
• DON'T leave pet food outside overnight.
• DON'T add meat or sweets to a compost pile.

Bears also occasionally attack livestock like chickens, which can be prevented with livestock and barns. It is also unwise to leave pets outside alone, especially during dawn and dusk when bears are typically seen.

DEEP also mentions that bears do not want conflict, usually climbing up trees to avoid people, and will move to secluded areas if left alone. If you come in contact with one, it is wise to move away from it and let it pass by as a crowd of bystanders will only stress the animal.

If a bear is found in a densely populated area, it is wise to contact DEEP. While the mere presence of a bear does not necessitate its removal, they will be if it seems the bear is unlikely to leave the area.

Patch Editor RJ Scofield contributed to this story.

Photo Credit: Paul J. Fusco/DEEP Wildlife Division, not West Hartford bear