HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is strongly urging residents to follow best practices to reduce the likelihood of conflicts with black bears this fall as the animals enter their annual feeding frenzy.

Conflicts with bears continue to follow a long-term increasing trend in Connecticut, with bears observed in all 169 cities and towns across the state. DEEP has documented nearly 40 bear home entries across 16 municipalities so far in 2025, a concerning pattern that officials say remains far higher than neighboring states.

“When bears find food in our trash, birdfeeders, or pet dishes, they lose their natural fear of people and end up in our backyards— putting our families and pets at risk,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Every re

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