Black bears (Ursus americanus) are a native species that has successfully recolonized Connecticut, leading to a significant increase in their population across the state. This growth has transformed Connecticut from a place where bear sightings were rare to one where human-bear interactions are a common wildlife management concern. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) actively monitors this expanding population using a variety of scientific methods, tracking the bear population’s size, distribution, and the resulting increase in conflicts with residents.
Current Population Estimates and Distribution
The most recent official population estimate provided by DEEP places the black bear population in Connecticut between 1,000 and 1,200 animals. This estimate is a modeled number based on long-term research, including den studies, tagging efforts, and reproductive data, rather than a direct count.
The population is not evenly distributed across the state, with the highest concentration and greatest number of conflicts occurring in the northwestern quarter of Connecticut. This region, which includes Litchfield and parts of Hartford County, provided the earliest suitable habitat for their return. However, the bear’s range is continually expanding eastward, with breeding populations moving into new municipalities.
Public sighting data shows bears were reported in 159 of the state’s 169 towns and cities in 2024. Sows (female bears) with offspring were confirmed in over 89 towns, which is a key indicator of a newly established breeding population. This increasing density and overlap with human development resulted in nuisance reports exceeding 3,000 human-bear conflicts in 2024 alone.
Understanding Population Growth Trends
Black bears were extirpated from Connecticut by the mid-1800s due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Recolonization began in the 1980s, coinciding with the regrowth of extensive forestland following the abandonment of colonial-era farms. This increase in suitable wooded habitat provided the necessary cover for the species to re-establish a foothold.
The recent rapid growth is fueled by a high reproductive rate and abundant food sources. Female bears have a high reproductive potential, producing an average of 2.5 cubs per litter with an approximately 82 percent first-year survival rate. The lack of natural predators and the widespread availability of human-related food attractants, such as garbage and bird seed, also support this accelerated population expansion.
DEEP tracks this growth through multiple methods. Public sighting reports help gauge population distribution and relative activity. Biologists use GPS collars to monitor the large home ranges of individual bears, which can span between 12 and 60 square miles for males. Specialized den studies allow researchers to monitor reproductive success and overall health, providing detailed data for population dynamics modeling.
State Wildlife Management Strategies
The state’s management approach, overseen by DEEP, focuses on mitigating human-bear conflicts through public education and specific protocols for nuisance bears. The department generally avoids relocating bears, as this shifts the problem to a new area and is often ineffective. Instead, a bear that exhibits persistent, serious negative behavior, such as repeated home entry or killing protected livestock, may be humanely euthanized.
Black bear hunting is currently illegal in Connecticut, though the legislature regularly considers proposals for a regulated hunting season. In 2023, Public Act 23-77 created the Agricultural Damage Permit Program. This program allows farmers to obtain a DEEP permit to kill a bear actively damaging crops or beehives, but only after demonstrating that non-lethal deterrents have failed.
The 2023 law also prohibited the intentional feeding of black bears, reinforcing the state’s focus on behavior modification. DEEP runs the “Be Bear Aware” public education campaign to inform residents about coexisting with bears and the importance of securing food attractants to prevent habituation.
Safe Coexistence for Residents
Residents living in bear country must take preventative action to eliminate external food sources that draw bears to their homes and property. Bears are highly intelligent and opportunistic, quickly learning to associate human dwellings with easy meals.
The most effective preventative steps include:
- Removing bird feeders and bird food from late March through November, as these items are highly caloric and easily accessible.
- Securing trash cans inside a garage or shed until the morning of collection.
- Cleaning and storing outdoor grills after every use.
- Never leaving pet food outside overnight.
If a bear is encountered, residents should never approach it, especially if cubs are nearby. The appropriate reaction is to make noise, such as shouting or waving arms, to make the bear aware of the human presence. Residents should back away slowly without running or climbing a tree, allowing the bear to retreat. Keeping dogs on a short leash is important, as a roaming dog can be perceived as a threat.