WESTPORT, CT – A man who was gardening outside a house in Westport had a close encounter with a bear Wednesday afternoon after the animal was sighted multiple times in the northern part of town, according to police.
Lt. Dave Wolf said police and an animal welfare officer reacted on a house on Highland Road around 2:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a bear in the yard there, according to a press release.
The bear then moved to a second home on the same street and allegedly put its paw on a man who was gardening outside, Wolf said. The man was not injured and the bear did not behave aggressively towards him, said Wolf.
The bear later made his way to Warnock Drive and entered an unoccupied sundeck there, Wolf said.
“When the animal control officer arrived, the bear had left the winter garden and was sitting in the courtyard,” said Wolf in a press release.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection helped monitor the bear last seen en route west towards Weston, Wolf said.
Peter Reid, the city’s deputy animal welfare officer, said the bear was behaving normally and not aggressively, but warned not to get too close to the bear to photograph or record, as this would make the bear feel cornered or trapped could.
“At this point in time, there is no evidence that the bear poses a threat to the community,” said Wolf, “but precautions should be taken with common sense.”
According to Wolf, it is “a good idea” to dismantle bird feeders in the summer, as bears are attracted to them. Also, outdoor barbecues and dining tables should be cleaned with a diluted bleach solution after each use, as the smell of the food also attracts bears.
The sighting comes days after a black bear was seen eating newborn fawns in New Canaan.
According to Allyson Halm, a New Canaan animal welfare officer, the bear had markings on both ears that were likely put on the animal by the state Department of Energy and Environment.
See also: Black Bears Spotted Eating Fawns in New Canaan: Animal Control
It’s unclear whether the bear spotted in Westport is related to the migratory bear in New Canaan, but Halm noted Tuesday that the New Canaan bear likely found its way to New York.
Halm said there is an increase in bear sightings in the area at this time of year, typically young males that were cast off by their mother and are now roaming around trying to find comfortable territory.
According to the DEEP website, residents who discover a black bear in their garden are encouraged to keep their distance from the animal and report the sighting. Residents can also try to scare the bear away by making noises like banging pots and pans, screaming, or using an air horn or whistle.
Possible bear food sources that could attract bears to a resident’s property include bird feeders, pet food, dirty grills, open compost, or trash. Residents are encouraged to remove these food sources immediately if they attract a black bear, as they have incredible long-term memories and will return to places where they found food months or years later, according to DEEP.
Bear sightings can be reported to Westport Animal Control at 203-341-5076 or to DEEP here.
