Officials Offer Advice As Connecticut Sees More Bears

NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- The bear population appears to be growing in Connecticut.

State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesman Dennis Schain said many of the bears are coming in from neighboring Massachusetts and New York.

"The bear population is growing because they are at the top of the food chain, there's not another animal out there challenging them," Schain said, adding that the state often tranquilizes bears to check on their health and moves them to forest areas where they can thrive.

According to the DEEP's website, Avon had 589 bear sightings between last September and Aug. 30 of this year, the most in the state.

To avoid attracting bears near your home, the DEEP says you should:

• Remove bird feeders from late March through November. If a bear visits a bird feeder in winter, remove the feeder.
• Wait until the morning of collection before bringing out trash. Add a few capfuls of ammonia to trash bags and garbage cans to mask food odors. Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store in a garage or shed.
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight. Store livestock food in airtight containers.
• Do not put meats or sweet-smelling fruit rinds in compost piles. Lime can be sprinkled on the compost pile to reduce the smell and discourage bears.
• Thoroughly clean grills after use or store in a garage or shed.
• Never intentionally feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become aggressive and dangerous. This may lead to personal injury, property damage, and the need to destroy problem animals.
• Encourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.