Bear population in CT

[Chip]

A CT State Biologist quoted in this article estimates the current bear population in CT at up to 500 and growing at 10 t 20% per year. If distributed evenly that's 1 bear every 10 square miles and about 3 bear per town.
The most common attractant and complaint regards bird feeders and trash cans. There have been a few reports recently of livestock killed.
I'm leaving the weapons home and taking my camera into the woods.
I'm pretty confident I'll "shoot" a bear this year, maybe this weekend.

 

[Jay H]

I imagine all the bears hanging out by the AT in NJ are just about becoming active now...

I know if I want to go see a bear, I can always jump in my Kayak and go up to Wawayanda SP which the AT goes through... Almost guaranteed to see some bears on the shoreline...

Jay

 

[hermit]

A friend of mine said a huge one came into his backyard this morning and ate the dog's food while the dog watched in fear.

 

[Halite]

If distributed evenly that's 1 bear every 10 square miles and about 3 bear per town.

The good news for your bear 'hunting' is that they probably aren't evenly distributed, since I really doubt there are any bear down in lower Fairfield County where I live. So the bear population is even denser in your part of the state .

 

[Chip]

The good news for your bear 'hunting' is that they probably aren't evenly distributed, since I really doubt there are any bear down in lower Fairfield County where I live. So the bear population is even denser in your part of the state .

It's only a matter of time, there Halite. The "problem" with bear is that they're territorial, so as the population grows, they move into new areas. The DEP had been tranquilizing and moving bear, moose, etc. Unfortunately another will just move into that space.

Edit: Before anyone corrects me on this, I realize there will NEVER be 3 bear per town and 1 every 10sq miles, I was just illustrating what 500 of anything in a state the size of ours means.

 

[cbcbd]

No wonder I saw a bear on the way to work today in downtown Stamford, he was waiting for the bus.


My girlfriend had told me once that a bear was found in her town (Deep River, CT). They tagged it and moved it to upstate NY. A year later "another" bear showed up - it ended up being the same bear. Whooooa

 

[ripple]

Halite:
There have been bears in Milford, Shelton and Stratford. None of those towns are "out there in the woods". Shelton and Stratford are in Fairfield county. There is plenty of wooded areas in Fairfield county, that I wouldn't be surprize to read about them showing up more and more.

 

[Halite]

Guys, my comment on the bear population in lower Fairfield County was not based on any scientific analysis. Nor was it a criticism of Chip's quick and dirty '3 per town and 1 every 10 sq. mile' calculation. I was just trying to suggest that the bear 'problem' is even bigger in certain areas where the 500 bears are likely more concentrated than in the more urbanized sections of the state.

 

[Chip]

I know, Halite, my edit was directed to those here that enjoy correcting other peoples assertions and assumptions. Nothing directed at you. There definately are more animals up here. I think Barkhampstead is "ground zero" for reports in the last few years.

 

[Mike P.]

Will a black bear kill a deer fawn or eat roadkill? If so Fairfiled is ripe as the deer are all over the place, especially around the Merritt.

We saw a moose two years ago south of the MA Pike in MA. Bear likely along AT & other wooded areas. They had video of one a couple of years ago in Ledyard feeding at a bird feeder. Apparently had not earned enough Comps to eat at the Foxwoods Buffett.

 

[Chip]

Will a black bear kill a deer fawn or eat roadkill? .

I don't think so. They'd raid the bird feeders and garbage before then. The reports of livestock killed are rare, and I'm not even sure if "they" are sure it was bear that did the deed.

They had video of one a couple of years ago in Ledyard feeding at a bird feeder. Apparently had not earned enough Comps to eat at the Foxwoods Buffett.

 

[una_dogger]

So they are waking in the Catskills

Hermit, you crack me up -- and I totally believe your story.
Must be great living in Shokan, what a pretty spot.

Jay, I was just thinking today about black bear activity -- they must be out and about with all this great sunny weather we are having.

I'm planning my first backpacking weekend of this season to happen in a couple of weeks, and I was considering where bears might be most active right now.

Sabrina

 

[John Satterlee]

There have been several bear sightings in my town including one seen on my front porch, but I missed it.

This about the last place I would ever expect to see one: it is 8 miles from the coast.

My big fear is hitting one, or her cub, at night when riding on the bike.

http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/Wildlife/sighting/bearsight.asp

 

[Halite]

Nice link to the bear sighting chart, John. One sighting in New Canaan. That's right up the road from me!

 

[hermit]

Hi Una-dogger,
West Shokan is a lovely place to live,and we have our fair share of Black Bears. Last year I took a picture of a large boar, with a sow laying down in my backyard. It was mating season ,and he looked tired.
This was taken last June by a couple of tool sheds in my yard.

 

[Tuggy]

Will a bear eat a fawn?

I've seen a black bear run down a deer with a broken leg, kill it, and start eating it. I'm not sure about roadkill but it sure would take advantage of any free meat it found in the woods.

 

[DougPaul]

I've seen a black bear run down a deer with a broken leg, kill it, and start eating it. I'm not sure about roadkill but it sure would take advantage of any free meat it found in the woods.

I suspect that they will consider roadkill to be free meat at the edge of the woods...

They can always drag it off into the bushes if they want some privacy.

Doug

 

[funkyfreddy]

What is bear activity on the Ct. AT like? Do they have food lockers at the lean-to's? Should one bother with a bear canister if planning an overnight on the Ct AT?

 

[Mike P.]

They do have bears so a cannister or hanging food should be considered required. No rules as far as I know that you need a cannister.