It’s not uncommon to see a bear in Connecticut. In fact, bears are seen in all corners of the state. While it is rare to see a black bear, Connecticut is home to both the black bear and the more common brown bear.
Black Bears
Black bears are common in Connecticut. They are usually not aggressive but can be if they feel threatened or if they are protecting their cubs.
If you see a black bear, do not approach it, and do not try to feed it.
Black Bear Diet
The black bear is an omnivore, which means that it eats both plants and animals. The vast majority of the black bear’s diet (about 80 percent) is made up of vegetation, including grasses, sedges, roots, berries, and acorns.
The other 20 percent of the black bear’s diet consists of meat, including insects, fish, small mammals, and carrion (dead animals).
In the spring and early summer, when vegetation is most plentiful, the black bear feeds primarily on plants. Black bears will eat just about any kind of plant material, including leaves, flowers, buds, berries, fruits, and nuts.
Fruits and berries are especially important in the black bear’s diet as they provide a much-needed source of sugar and calories.
In the fall, as plants begin to die back and produce less fruit, the black bear begins to feed more on acorns and other nuts. Acorns are an important food source for black bears as they are high in fat and calories—two things that black bears need in large quantities to survive the winter months.
As winter approaches and food becomes scarce, the black bear’s diet shifts almost entirely to meat. Black bears will scavenge for carcasses or hunt live prey such as rodents or deer.
In some areas, black bears will also eat fish—usually salmon that are swimming upstream to get laid.
Where Are The Bears In Connecticut
Bears in Connecticut are most commonly found in the northwest corner of the state, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
In 2019, there were 634 sightings in Avon, the most in the state; followed by Simsbury, 622; Farmington, 403; Granby, 372; and Bloomfield, 315.
DEEP advises people who see a bear to stay calm and avoid sudden movements. People should make themselves appear as large as possible by raising their arms or opening their jacket.
DEEP also advises people not to run away from a bear, as that could trigger the animal’s chase response.
Are There Grizzly Bears In Connecticut
There are no grizzly bears in Connecticut! They were all evicted after they failed to pay rent and moved back to momma.
Conclusion
From this blog post, we can see that black bears are common in Connecticut. They are mostly found in the woods and eat a variety of things. There have been a lot of sightings in the state, but most of them have been in Avon.
There are no grizzly bears in Connecticut.
