Connecticut is not usually known for its bears. But the state is home to about 1,000 to 1,200 black bears (Ursus americanus). Most of them live in the mountainous northwest corner.
For the first time ever, a mother bear in Connecticut was seen with five cubs. NBC4 Connecticut shared a video of the family. The state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) confirmed it's the biggest litter ever seen there.
Bears Return to Connecticut
In the mid-1800s, people cleared forests for farms, pushing black bears out of Connecticut. But in the late 1800s, many farms were abandoned. Forests grew back, and the bears returned.
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Start Your News DetoxBy the 1980s, DEEP's Wildlife Division found evidence of a steady black bear population. This population has grown ever since.
What to Do if You See Cubs
Bear cubs usually come out in the spring. Mother bears sometimes leave their cubs alone while they climb trees to find food. They are not abandoning them.
It's important to leave cubs alone, even if they are making noise. Contact a local wildlife management office instead. Mother bears might travel over a mile to find food. They can leave their cubs alone for 12 hours or more.
DEEP warns that "Removing cubs from the wild can unintentionally orphan them if the adult bear cannot locate and reunite with the cubs." This can also happen during bad weather. A cub's fur helps protect it from the cold and changing spring temperatures.
Increasing Bear Sightings
Since January, over 1,000 bear sightings have been reported in Connecticut. This number will likely grow as it gets warmer. Last year, there were over 12,000 bear sightings in the state. In comparison, there were only 22 sightings in 1996.
Nearby Massachusetts has about 4,500 bears. Maine has the most bears in New England, with up to 35,000.
