An important message from Animal Control Officer, Mark Harper:

Black Bear have recolonized Connecticut over the last few decades, and there are a number of black bears currently residing in Weston. Black bears are the least dangerous species of bear in North America, and there have been only 67 fatal attacks by black bears on humans in the last 120 years-- less than one a year. They generally exhibit timidity in interactions with humans, and retreat from conflict.

However, a bear attack over the weekend in Morris, CT, injured a 10-year-old child. While the circumstances of that incident remain unclear, the Weston Animal Control department wanted to take this opportunity to restate some basic guidelines for living safely alongside bears:

- Remove all food attractants from around your property. Bird feeders containing seed and suet are a major attractant. Taking in your feeders at dusk will reduce (but not eliminate) the likelihood of a bear visit. Do not hang bird feeders on a porch or patio at any time. Bears will climb right up on a porch to get at these feeders, and that puts them in very close proximity to you.
- Be aware that chicken coops and beehives are major attractants to bears. The best way to protect coops and hives is through installation of an electric fence. To deter bears, a minimum of 6,000-7,000 volts is required. Temporary and battery-powered fencing is an option in some cases. There are many internet resources regarding proper electric fence installation.
- Keep your garbage cans in a garage or fully enclosed structure. Many garbage collection companies now require cans to be accessible to their trucks. Take your cans out immediately before collection. This will reduce the chance of a bear discovering your garbage can. Periodically clean your garbage can and recycling bin with a dilute bleach solution. Eliminating old food odors will make the cans less attractive to bears.
- Clean your grill and outdoor dining areas after use. The vestigial food odors on grills and dining surfaces can attract bears.
- Keep your garage doors closed! Open garages attract interest from a variety of wild species, including raccoons, skunks, snakes, and yes, bears.
- Do not feed pets outside. The presence of pet food outdoors is a major attractant to wild animals, up to and including bears.

As we enter the fall season, bears are actively bulking up for winter, foraging for up to 20 hours a day, and consuming up to 20,000 calories a day. As a result, this is the time of year when it is most likely to encounter a bear. 

- When hiking in open spaces, keep your dog on a lead. Bears will not seek conflict with a dog, but a bear will defend itself if a dog pursues them. It is a good idea to carry some form of bear deterrent when hiking. That can be a whistle, air horn or bear spray.
- If you come face-to-face with a bear, make noise and act in an assertive manner, while gradually retreating and watching the bear. Clapping your hands can be effective, if you don’t have a whistle or air horn. In most cases the bear will also retreat.
- If a bear comes toward you, stand your ground and make noise. Do not run from a bear, but gradually retreat the way you came, keeping the bear under observation the entire time. In the unlikely event that a bear attacks, stand your ground and fight back with whatever is at hand.
- Do not take selfies with bears! The proliferation of smart phone cameras seems to have created an impulse to take photos or videos of everything all the time. Bears can easily misinterpret the selfie-taking process. Photographing the bear should not be a priority! You can observe the bear from a distance as you retreat, and enjoy the experience, without documenting it on Instagram.