Connecticut Bears: Keeping Neighborhoods Safe

It's April 4th. Welcome to Hartford News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story.

Connecticut's black bears are stirring up trouble again, even with a small drop in home

breakings last year. The latest state of the bears report from the Department of Energy

and Environmental Protection shows the population holding steady between 1,000 and 1,200 bears,

with plenty of room to grow, thanks to good habitat and easy human food sources.

Conflicts with people keep climbing overall, especially now in spring when bears wake up hungry.

Home entries fell to 40 in 2025, down from over 60 the year before, but that's still high

compared to neighbors like Massachusetts, and New York, which have way more bears but fewer

breakings per bear. Officials verified 265 home entries over the last six years, mostly through

open windows or rip screens. Meanwhile, 69 bears got hit by cars last year, and there were three

human attacks, including one guy slashed outside his Northcane and home. These run-ins hit folks

hard, spreading from the northwest corner into places like Hartford and Fairfield counties.

Farmers face crop damage too, though it's a small slice of conflicts but big money losses.

The commissioner stresses coexistence, pointing out most issues come from bird feeders,

and unsecure trash that make bears bold and dangerous. This year, they're updating bear

population estimates with fresh research, noting cublitters averaged 2.5 last year with a 73.

Percent first year survival rate. New laws ban intentional feeding, and let farmers get permits

after trying non-lethal fixes like electric fencing. 13 bears removed that way in.

2025. The Bee Bear-wise campaign racked up millions of ad views to spread the word.

To keep things chill this summer, lockdown trash and bear proof bins ditch those bird feeders

entirely, even the spicy seed or hummingbird ones draw. Amen, and report sightings to help track

the population. Simple moves like that keep bears wild and neighborhood safe as they roam.