Black Bears

Abstract

There have been reports of increased sightings and incidents with black bears. However, success in preventing human interactions with black bears depends on people changing their own behavior. Most interactions occur because bears are smart, opportunistic feeders who can smell food a mile away. It is critical for CT residents not to unintentionally lure bears to their yards with their bird feeders, trash, and other food attractants, especially in the fall when bears are going through hyperphagia, the period before hibernation when they must gain 20-40 pounds a week. Problematic human behavior results in bears becoming human foodconditioned and human-habituated (becoming too comfortable around people). The simple answer is to change problematic human behavior AND to remove food attractants.