ROCKY HILL, CT — A person asleep on a porch in Rocky Hill was injured after a brief encounter with a bear late Friday afternoon, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
DEEP Spokesperson James Fowler confirmed Monday in an email to Patch that the department received a report around 4 p.m. of “a bear-human contact” in the 800 block of New Britain Avenue.
According to Fowler, DEEP staff spoke to a person in the area who reported being asleep on a porch and waking up to find a bear, which then ran off.
The person sustained “a very minor abrasion” to their leg, however Fowler noted there was no increased danger to the public at this time.
“While this behavior is not common, encounters and conflicts with black bears in Connecticut is increasing, especially during the fall period,” Fowler said to Patch.
While not drawing any direct conclusions to Friday’s incident, Fowler noted bears enter a biological state called “hyperphagia” in the fall months, during which they forage for up to 20 hours a day to build fat reserves for the winter.
According to Fowler, the animals can consume upwards of 20,000 calories a day during this period, which is about 10 times their normal intake.
“When human-sourced foods are available, it’s much easier,” Fowler said. “Just one bird feeder full of sunflower seeds or a single garbage container with leftovers can provide a bear with a full day’s worth of calories in less than an hour.”
That convenience draws bears toward local neighborhoods, which not only disrupts the animals’ natural foraging, but also creates risk for conflicts, Fowler said.
“When bears trade acorns for backyard leftovers and bird feeders, it’s a lose-lose-lose,” Fowler said, “they learn that this behavior is rewarding, they lose their natural fear of humans and we risk more conflicts at our doorsteps.”
With bears more active than ever at this time of year, Fowler said the department encourages Connecticut residents to “be bear wise.”
Earlier this month, DEEP officials strongly urged residents to follow best practices in efforts to reduce the likelihood of a conflict with a black bear this fall, and noted bears have been observed in all cities and towns across Connecticut.
One of the leading “public safety indicators” of rising human-bear conflicts in Connecticut is the number of bear home entries. As of October 2025, DEEP has documented nearly 40 bear home entries across 16 municipalities.
While these numbers can vary from year to year, this year’s data “continue to show a concerning long-term pattern demonstrated in DEEP’s annual State of the Bears Report,” officials said.
Additional guidance and resources on living with black bears can also be found on the DEEP website.
“Prevention is the best long-term solution to human-bear conflicts we have in our toolbox,” Fowler said. “Keep garbage secured, take down bird feeders, protect your backyard chickens and don’t leave food outside where bears can get to it. Natural food is always best for bears.”
Includes prior reporting by Chris Dehnel, Patch Staff