How to Be 'Bear Aware' Around the Lake
Sept. 2019 at 159 West Shore Road
July 2016: Young bear at 139 West Shore Road
May 2022: Mama Bear and her cubs on Lake Waramaug Road. Photo by Pauline Kelley
Connecticut’s Black Bears are here to stay.
These two simple actions to remove attractants can easily prevent up to 75% of conflicts with bears in and around the lake and throughout Northwest CT:
1) Secure your trash with a bear-resistant trash can. Bears getting into your trash make up nearly 50% of all bear-related conflicts. SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR LWA MEMBERS! Call or email All-American Waste/USA Recycling at 800-998-2984 x2235 phatidani@usarecycle.com (Paul) to order. Say “I’m a Lake Waramaug Association member” for one month free (pay $11/month instead of the full rate of $12/month your first year). Please have your customer number handy or they can look up your account by phone/address. They’ll deliver your new can and pick up your old one. This video shows how effective bear-resistant trash cans are.
2) Take down your bird feeder. Bird feeders make up nearly 25% of all bear-related conflicts. Love birds? Remove your feeder and consider sustainable native landscaping instead: plant native plants in your yard to attract birds (not bears). Here’s a great guide.
Bear sightings are common. Please report sightings to the CT Department of Environmental Protection here.
Take a few minutes to check out CT DEEP’s informative website with guidelines for living with bears. If a bear enters your home, call EnCon Emergency Dispatch 860-424-3333 or 911. DEEP Wildlife Division phone: 860-424-3011
Bobcat sightings have also become more frequent around the Lake. You can report sightings and learn more about bobcats in Connecticut at the CT Department of Environmental Protection link here.
Black Bear Dos and Don’ts
In recent years, a resident population has become established in Connecticut, primarily in the northwestern region. Bears have also wandered into heavily populated residential areas. We need to change our behavior and keep in mind we share the landscape with bears. While attacks on humans are rare, a dog may be perceived as a threat especially if there are cubs around.
Now might be a good time to brush up on your bear knowledge and learn the easy steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of bear conflicts. Take a few minutes to check out CT DEEP’s informative website with guidelines for living with bears.
Bears Near Your Home
Bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and birdfeeders around houses.
DO remove birdfeeders and bird food from late March through November - or better yet, take them down for good.
DO eliminate food attractants by placing garbage cans inside a garage or shed. Add ammonia to trash to make it unpalatable. Best bet: secure your trash with a bear-resistant trash can. Bears getting into your trash make up nearly 50% of all bear-related conflicts. This video shows how effective bear-resistant trash cans are. Call or email All-American Waste/USA Recycling at 800-998-2984 x2235 phatidani@usarecycle.com (Paul) to order. Say “I’m a Lake Waramaug Association member” for one month free (pay $11/month instead of the full rate of $12/month your first year).
DO clean and store grills away after use.
DO consider electric fencing if you have livestock.
DON'T intentionally or accidentally feed bears. Bears that become accustomed to finding food near your home may become "problem" bears.
Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside. Here’s a guide with important info about dogs and bears.
DON'T add meat or sweets to a compost pile.
DON’T approach or try to get close to a bear to get a photo or video.
Bears Seen When Hiking or Camping
Bears normally leave an area once they’ve sensed a human. If you see a bear, enjoy it from a distance. Aggression by bears towards humans is exceptionally rare.
DO make your presence known by making noise and waving your arms if you see a bear while hiking.
DO keep dogs on a leash and under control. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.
DO walk away slowly if you surprise a bear nearby.
DON'T cook food near your tent or store food inside your tent. Instead, keep food in a secure vehicle or use rope to suspend it between two trees.
DON'T climb a tree, but wait in a vehicle or building for the bear to leave an area.
Do report bear sightings! Please use this form to Report a Black Bear Sighting.
Experience has shown that a single wandering bear can be responsible for numerous sightings reported to the Wildlife Division. Experience has also shown that, given an avenue for escape, bears will usually wander back into more secluded areas. It is up to Connecticut residents to alter their behaviors and not allow easy access to attractants such as food items.
The probability of a bear attacking a human is exceptionally low. Therefore, the mere presence of a bear does not necessitate its removal. However, DEEP Wildlife Division may attempt to remove bears from urban locations when there is little likelihood that they will leave on their own and when they are in positions where darting is feasible. DEEP monitors bear activity in developed areas in coordination with local public safety officials. Coordination and cooperation with officials on the scene and local police officials is a key, critical ingredient in educating the public and assuring a safe, desirable outcome in such a situation.
Here are answers to some LWA Members’ questions about bears:
Q: What should you do if you come around the corner of your house and there's a bear 15 feet away and the bear sees you? A: You never want to turn your back & run: talk to the bear so it’s aware of your presence. Take a few steps back and go into your house or car if it’s nearby. If you’re on a trail and see a bear - first thing: make your presence known. Calmly wave your hands and yell ‘hey bear!’ Never turn and run, take a few steps back and find an alternate route. If you make your presence known and it’s still coming towards you, you want to intimidate the bear: shout at it, use a whistle or horn, etc.
Q: Would a very loud noise scare a bear? A: Yes. If you see a bear around your home - report it - and also make noise to scare it. Bang pots and pans together, yell, blow a whistle or air horn - you don’t want it to feel comfortable around your backyard.
Q: Does bear spray work? A: Yes. But bears are seldom aggressive towards people. It doesn’t hurt to have pepper spray or bear spray on hand. It should be effective in deterring a bear should it choose not to leave.
Q: Should I carry bear spray when hiking with my dog? A: You can, but what’s most important is to make sure your dog is on a leash. Dog encounters with black bears do happen. Smaller dogs are pretty good at scaring bears. But if the bear feels cornered or has cubs, there’s an increased chance of conflict. Here’s a guide with important info about dogs and bears.
Q: Will an electrified perimeter fence keep a bear out of a backyard? A: Yes. They’re effective, particularly for livestock purposes.
Q: Are local bear populations increasing or decreasing and over what period of time? Increasing, but not exploding. There are 1000-1200 individuals. Female bears have avg. 2-3 cubs every 2 years. Read “The State of the Bears in CT” for more information including graphs and charts.
Q: Are fruit trees and vegetable gardens attractors of bears? A: Yes, but they’re a pretty small part of the overall puzzle. Trash & bird feeders are much worse.
Q: Re: home invasions, is it advisable to change door handles? A: That’s up to the homeowner - but a lot of the home entries involve screen doors that bears push in or through.