A Bristol, Connecticut, homeowner says a bear showed up at his property four times in a single day, turning a backyard sighting into a repeated home-security concern.
Ted Dziekan’s security cameras captured the bear walking around his Sixth Street property on four separate occasions, according to WFSB. He told the station he has contacted animal control and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection while waiting for a solution.
Dziekan said his family has owned the property for more than 100 years and had never seen bears around like this before. He also said his trash cans were empty after pickup, leaving him unsure what was bringing the bear back.
The visits come as bear activity rises across Connecticut neighborhoods. Bristol police also warned this week about increased bear sightings, especially around Page Park.
The Bear Came Back Four Times
Dziekan told WFSB that seeing the bear return several times in one day felt like too much.
His property includes a backyard river that DEEP stocks with fish every year, but he told the station there was no clear food source in the trash cans after pickup.
For homeowners, repeat visits are the part to watch. A single bear sighting may pass quickly, but a bear that keeps returning can push the problem closer to doors, windows, porches, grills, sheds, and pets.
DEEP Says Screens Will Not Stop Hungry Bears
ENCON officers have responded to 96 bear nuisance calls since April 1, WFSB reported. Twenty of those calls involved bears entering homes, which DEEP said is higher than usual for this time of year.
Kyle Testerman, a DEEP wildlife biologist, told the station that bears have pulled out window air-conditioning units, pushed through screen doors, and entered through windows.
He said residents should close screened doors and windows when they will not be nearby to watch them.
Food Sources Can Bring Bears Back
DEEP officials said mating season and hunger are both contributing to the current activity. The agency advises residents to remove food sources from yards and ask trash collectors about bear-proof bins.
DEEP’s broader bear guidance says bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and bird feeders. The agency urges residents to make their property a “No-Bear-Food-Zone.”
Yards Need A Bear Check
DEEP tells residents to take down bird feeders, store garbage in secure airtight containers, keep grills clean, avoid storing recyclables on screened porches, and keep pet food indoors.
Anyone who encounters a bear should make noise, keep away, and avoid getting closer for a photo or video.
Bear sightings can be reported through DEEP’s website. Residents should call DEEP’s 24-hour dispatch line if a bear is acting dangerously or erratically.