Seymour Public Library program to focus on bear awareness, safety, folklore

SEYMOUR - Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist Felicia Ortner will discuss black bears at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Seymour Public Library.

Her presentation will include:

- Bears in Our World and Backyard
- Bear Awareness, Safety and Conservation
- Bear Folklore and Legends, Truths and Myths
- Wildlife and Natural History

This is a free program and open to all. Registration is not required. 

Please call 203-888-3903 or email sgarvey@biblio.org for more information.

The Library is at 46 Church St.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Recuperation journey: Social distancing

I participated Thursday with one pink bear. Today she has a friend with her out there! And they are practicing social distancing. 
I hope some little kids will see them.

DEEP offers tips to CT residents on avoiding black bears

Credit Paul J. Fusco/DEEP Wildlife Division

A common misconception is that a tagged bear is a problem bear, and a bear with two ear tags was caught on two different occasions because it was causing problems. Actually, every bear receives two ear tags (one in each ear) the first time it is handled by DEEP. Most tagged bears have not been caught as problem bears, but rather as part of a project researching the state’s population.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reminds residents to take steps to reduce encounters and potential conflicts with black bears. 

These steps are increasingly important because Connecticut’s bear population continues to grow and expand and bear activity increases in early spring. 
In 2016, approximately 6,700 bear sightings from 134 of Connecticut’s 169 towns were reported to the DEEP Wildlife Division.

“If you genuinely care about bears, you should never feed them – either intentionally or unintentionally,” said Susan Whalen, DEEP Deputy Commissioner. 

“Bears become habituated, losing their fear of humans, when attracted to homes by easily-accessible food sources. Such bears spend more time in neighborhoods and near people, increasing public safety fears, and the likelihood that the bears may be hit and killed by cars or meet with some other misfortune.”

Connecticut residents should take the following simple steps to avoid problems with black bears:

• NEVER feed bears.
• Take down, clean, and put away bird feeders by late March. Store the feeders until late fall. Clean up spilled seed from the ground.
• Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Double bagging and adding ammonia to cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
• Protect beehives, livestock (including chickens), and berry bushes from bears with electric fencing.
• Supervise dogs at all times when outside. Keep dogs on a leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.
• Do not leave pet food outdoors.
• Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.
• Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods in compost piles.

If you encounter a bear while hiking, make your presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. Never attempt to get closer to a bear to take a photo or video. 

If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area and find an alternate hiking route. 
If the bear persistently approaches, be offensive towards the bear – make loud noises, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks. Never run. While camping, keep a clean campsite, and make sure food and garbage are inaccessible (for example, keep food in a cooler stored in the trunk of a car and never have food in your tent).

In the rare instance when a bear appears to be aggressive toward people, residents should immediately contact the DEEP’s 24-hour dispatch line at 860-424-3333.

Bear sightings reported by the public provide valuable information to assist the DEEP Wildlife Division in monitoring the black bear population. 
Anyone who observes a black bear in Connecticut is encouraged to report the sighting on the DEEP’s website at www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife or call the Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011. Information on the presence or absence of ear tags, including tag color and numbers, is particularly valuable. 
A common misconception is that a tagged bear is a problem bear, and a bear with two ear tags was caught on two different occasions because it was causing problems. Actually, every bear receives two ear tags (one in each ear) the first time it is handled by DEEP. 
Most tagged bears have not been caught as problem bears, but rather as part of a project researching the state’s population.

To obtain fact sheets and other information about black bears, visit www.ct.gov/deep/blackbear or contact the Wildlife Division.

This is a press release from DEEP. 


*Note: A bear has been spotted in Seymour in recent days, according to photos posted on Facebook.

Seymour Public Library to host talk about black bears

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public Library will host Felicia Ortner, Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to talk about the modern reality of encounters with black bears.

Photo from CT DEEP website

Ortner will talk about bear awareness, safety, and conservation along with bear folklore, myths, and truths. 
This is a free program.

For information call 203-888-3903.

The Library is at 46 Church St.

This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

DEEP offers tips for preventing problems when encountering bears

I covered a fascinating program at the Seymour Historical Society last month and wrote about it here. 

Paul Colburn, a wildlife conservationist, presented the talk and distributed this information from the state DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources Wildlife Division.

Newsletter features talk on bears, Y camp in Ansonia, Food Trucks in the Valley

Dear readers,

Here's a link to the latest Valley Voice newsletter featuring a presentation at Seymour Historical Society about black bears in Connecticut.


Thanks for reading!

Seymour Historical Society talk features black bears in Connecticut

The skull of a black bear. 

SEYMOUR - More than 60 people attended a program on black bears Sunday presented by Paul Colburn, a Master Wildlife Conservationist, at Seymour Historical Society. 
The presentation focused on black bears' habitat, diet, behavior, and more.


Stay tuned for a story in The Valley Voice newsletter this week.

DEEP offers Connecticut residents tips to avoid conflicts with bears

Photo Credit: Paul J. Fusco/DEEP Wildlife Division

A common misconception is that a tagged bear is a problem bear, and a bear with two ear tags was caught on two different occasions because it was causing problems. Actually, every bear receives two ear tags (one in each ear) the first time it is handled by DEEP. Most tagged bears have not been caught as problem bears, but rather as part of a project researching the state’s population.

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reminds residents to take steps to reduce contact and potential conflicts with black bears. 

These steps are increasingly important because Connecticut’s bear population continues to grow and expand and bear activity begins to increase in early spring. In 2015, approximately 4,500 bear sightings from 141 of Connecticut’s 169 towns were reported to the DEEP Wildlife Division.

“If you genuinely care about bears, you should never feed them - either intentionally or unintentionally,” said Susan Whalen, DEEP Deputy Commissioner. 
“Bears can become habituated and lose their fear of humans when they are attracted close to homes by easily-accessible food sources. This results in more contact between people and bears - which creates public safety issues for people and the greater likelihood of bears engaging in behavior that can lead to their euthanization.”

Connecticut residents should take the following simple steps to avoid problems with black bears:

• NEVER feed bears.

• Take down, clean, and put away bird feeders by late March. Store the feeders until late fall. Clean up spilled seed from the ground.

• Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Double bagging and adding ammonia to cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.

• Protect beehives, livestock, and berry bushes from bears with electric fencing.

• Supervise dogs at all times when outside. Keep dogs on a leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.

• Do not leave pet food outdoors.

• Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.

• Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods in compost piles.

If you encounter a bear while hiking, make your presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. 
Never attempt to get closer to a bear to take a photo or video. 
If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area and find an alternate hiking route. If the bear persists, be offensive towards the bear - make loud noises, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks. 
While camping, keep a clean campsite, and make sure food and garbage are secured (for example, keep food in a cooler stored in the trunk of a car and never have food in your tent).

In the rare instance when a bear appears to be aggressive toward people, residents should immediately contact the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011 (Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or the DEEP’s 24-hour dispatch line (860-424-3333) during weekends and non-business hours.

Bear sightings reported by the public provide valuable information to assist the DEEP Wildlife Division in monitoring the black bear population. 
Anyone who observes a black bear in Connecticut is encouraged to report the sighting on the DEEP’s website www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife or to call the Wildlife Division. Information on the presence or absence of ear tags, including tag color, letters, and numbering, is particularly valuable. 

To obtain informational fact sheets and other information about black bears, visit www.ct.gov/deep/blackbear or contact the Wildlife Division.

This is a press release from DEEP.

Talk at Derby Public Library to focus on black bears in state

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled a program, The Bear Facts: Black Bears in Connecticut, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22.

Presenter Paul Colburn, certified Master Wildlife Conservationist, will focus on the natural history of black bears in Connecticut. He will give an overview of the black bear habitat, diet, behavior, and current research efforts.

Recommendations for optimum coexistence with the black bear population will be offered.

The increased sightings of black bears in our neighborhoods makes this a very timely presentation.  

Registration is requested.  
For more information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth 

St., call 203-736-1482 or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.  


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.