SHARE

Black Bear Spotted In Yard On Sunnyside Lane In Westport

WESTPORT, Conn. — A resident spotted a black bear in a wooded area behind a home on Sunnyside Lane in Westport on Monday evening, Westport police said.

A young bear sleeps in a tree in a yard in Fairfield last month.

A young bear sleeps in a tree in a yard in Fairfield last month.

Photo Credit: File

The observer lost sight of the bear as it traveled through the woods, police said. This sighting is not far from the area in which a black bear was seen over the past few days. 

On Friday, July 24, the Westport Police Department received reports on a black bear sighting in the area of Charcoal Hill Road and Easton Road. These sightings are all north of the Merritt Parkway and in the vicinity of Coleytown Elementary School. 

An Easton firefighter reported spotting a black bear last week in the vicinity of Valley Road.  

Last month, Westport and Fairfield police reported bear sightings on the same day. The Fairfield bear cub was found in a tree in a backyard by DEEP and relocated to a wooded area, The Daily Voice previously reported. Bears were spotted that same day, June 25, along the Merritt Parkway. 

Although bears are not common to the area, the Westport Police Department is again providing the following information from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website regarding the handling of bears near your home. If you see a bear:

  • All sightings should be reported to both the police Department and the DEEP Wildlife Division, at 860-675-8130. 
  • Enjoy it from a distance. 
  • Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away. 
  • Never attempt to feed or attract bears. 

A single wandering bear can be responsible for numerous sightings reported to the Wildlife Division in an area. Experience has shown that, given an avenue for escape, bears will usually wander back into more secluded areas, DEEP said.

People should not feed bears, either intentionally or unintentionally. Bears that associate food with people become problem bears that will not be tolerated by all property owners, DEEP said.

The probability of a bear attacking a human is exceptionally low. Therefore, the mere presence of a bear does mean it must be moved. However, DEEP 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 they can be sedated. 

 

to follow Daily Voice Darien and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE