Connecticut officials caution bird feeder use with bear sightings rising during warmer weather

As the weather gets warmer, expect to see more bears roaming around in Connecticut. Have you spotted any? They’re waking up and are hungry!  

Bears were caught wandering around a Bristol neighborhood earlier this week, and as the weather warms toward spring, more sightings of the bears will come.

“They are beautiful creatures, and we leave them alone. They just walk on by,” Lidia Scaniff of Farmington said.

There have been 180 bear sightings across more than 30 towns over the last three months. That’s according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and they say that number will quickly rise as the temperatures do.

They’re asking people to refrain from using bird feeders because the seeds can attract curious bears and create potential conflicts.

Some towns, like Simsbury and Granby, have even gone so far as to ban bird feeders during the spring, summer, and fall to reduce those chances.

“They’re high in fat content and energy content and protein, so they go for that,” Eric Bidwell, owner of Bidwell’s Yard, Garden, and Pet in Simsbury, said.

But for places where bird feeders are still allowed,  he explained that homeowners can get a bear-proof one that’s strongly anchored to the ground.

“They’ll climb the trees and break the wires or shake it until it falls on the ground,” Bidwell said.

One good deterrent to keep bears away from your bird feeder is a spicy mix of birdseed, or you can even make your own using liquid.

“It’s very, very hot for mammals to eat, but birds can’t detect that,” Bidwell said.

And some are already taking those precautions with their bird feeders.

“If they do them correctly, they can’t get it,” Scaniff said.

The big takeaway from people across central Connecticut is that they enjoy seeing the bears, and we all need to do our part.

“Keep your distance, and they won’t hurt you,” Scaniff said.

DEEP has lists of resources and frequently asked questions about bears on their website.

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