BRISTOL, Conn. (WFSB) – Bears visited one Bristol man’s home four times in a single day as mating season brings increased wildlife activity to Connecticut neighborhoods.
Ted Dziekan’s security cameras captured a bear walking around his Sixth Street property on four different occasions in one day. He has contacted animal control and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and is waiting for a solution.
“Coming back a couple times in one day, I think that’s getting to be a little much,” Dziekan said.
Dziekan and his family have owned the property for over 100 years but have never seen bears around until now. His backyard includes a river that DEEP stocks with fish every year.
“The trash cans are all empty. We had trash pickup yesterday, so there’s no real reason to get into them,” Dziekan said.
Bears have been spotted throughout Bristol recently. Police issued a warning this week for bear activity at Page Park.
ENCON officers have responded to 96 bear nuisance calls since April 1. Twenty of the calls have been for bears entering homes, more than usual for this time of year, according to DEEP.
“We have had bears pull out a window AC unit and access a house that way, push in through screen doors and windows. If you are not going to be around to attend to those windows and doors with a screen, keeping those closed,” said Kyle Testerman, a wildlife biologist with DEEP.
DEEP officials said it is mating season and bears are hungry. Residents should remove food sources from yards and can request bear-proof bins from trash collectors.
“You remember probably the places that you’ve had your best meals. I remember where I’ve had great meals. I keep going back there because I know what I’m going to get. If a bear keeps getting a good reward for going there and there is no risk, they aren’t getting scared away, they’re going to keep going because it pays off to keep doing that,” Testerman said.
Dziekan said housing development has reduced bear habitat.
“There’s less and less of their natural habitat, so they’re trying to do their best to find their food sources,” Dziekan said. “Everybody should just be cautious knowing that the population is now roaming the neighborhoods. Just be safe.”
If you see a bear, DEEP officials say to make noise and stay away. Bear sightings can be reported on DEEP’s website. DEEP also has a wildlife emergency hotline for bears acting dangerously or erratically.
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