Crime & Safety
DEEP Shoots Bear in Hartford Park
According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the bear had a history of agressive behavior toward people.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced it shot and killed a black bear in Keney Park in Hartford on Wednesday.
According to DEEP, officials decided to euthanize the bear upon learning the bear, which chased a Barkhamsted resident into their cellar, was seen in Keney Park, which stretched from Hartford into Windsor's southern end.
The bear had a history of aggressive behavior toward people, and, according to DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen, "Once bears become aggressive like this, they can no longer be safely relocated."
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According to a statement released by the state agency, the bear was an 18-20-month old male weighing about 150 pounds. The bear was tagged "B-2."
DEEP officials said the bear "was shot and killed when it moved into heavy brush in a remote area of the park."
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Earlier this month, DEEP officials euthanized a bear originally tagged in Windsor. The "B-1" bear was deemed "a problem bear in Madison prior to being killed by authorities.
Whalen is urging residents to refrain from feeding bears in both intentional and unintentional ways. If food is left available for a bear to access, "It will become habituated and lose its fear of people, and (the bear) will eventually have to be dispatched," she said.
According to DEEP, there are approximately 500 bears in the state and the population is on the rise.
The agency received close to 3,000 reports of bear sightings from 122 of the state's 169 towns.
For safety, DEEP offers the following guidelines with respect to the state's bear population:
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