Bear Spotted on Westport Back Porch

A bear was spotted on a Charcoal Hill Commons back porch early Friday morning.

Westport Now reports that the black bear helped itself to the contents of a bird feeder.

Black bears in the area have become more common in the recent season.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection offers the following tips to avoid attracting bears:

• Remove bird feeders from late March through November. If a bear visits a bird feeder in winter, remove the feeder.
• Wait until the morning of collection before bringing out trash. Add a few capfuls of ammonia to trash bags and garbage cans to mask food odors. Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store in a garage or shed.
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight. Store livestock food in airtight containers.
• Do not put meats or sweet-smelling fruit rinds in compost piles. Lime can be sprinkled on the compost pile to reduce the smell and discourage bears.
• Thoroughly clean grills after use or store in a garage or shed.
• Never intentionally feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become aggressive and dangerous. This may lead to personal injury, property damage, and the need to destroy problem animals.
• Encourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.

Check out the full Westport Now story here.

Image via Robert Snache/Flickr Commons, not the bear seen in Westport