HARTFORD, Conn. — As the snow begins to melt and the temperatures rise, black bears in Connecticut are set to re-emerge and become active, just as state officials are urging people to take precautions and know how to stay safe.

There are between 1,000 and 1,200 black bears in Connecticut, according to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. But that number is probably likely higher, as the population continues to grow and bears expand their territory in the state, according to officials.

Conflicts with bears are also increasing in Connecticut, as bears have been observed in all of the state’s 169 cities and towns this past year, according to to the annual “State of the Bears” report.

One of the leading public safety indicators of rising human-bear conflicts in Connecticut is the number of bear home entries. In 2025, DEEP officials said they have documented nearly 40 bear home entries across 16 municipalities. While these numbers can vary from year to year, officials said this year’s data continues to “show a concerning long-term pattern.”

So far in 2026, there have been 87 sightings of blacks bears in seven towns, according to wildlife sighting data from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Despite the limited number of sightings so far, the animals are emerging from their winter dens and starting to become more active, according to the agency.

State officials say that black bears are not true hibernators, but their body temperature goes down and their heart rate slows during “winter denning,” which can happen in a variety of places, including under fallen trees, in brush piles or under decks, porches or sheds. This period of dormancy is referred to as torpor, as bears reduce activity and stay largely inside their warm dens. During this time, from around November to March, bears do not eat or drink, as fat they conserved from the fall is turned into energy.

Once March and April bring warmer temperatures, heart rates and metabolism increase in bears, signaling the end of the dormant phase. Bears begin emerging from their winter dens, with adult males appearing first to look for food, often appearing skinny and hungry, according to DEEP. Bears also may start foraging for spring vegetation and berries.

“And they will not turn down a free, easy meal like calorie-rich bird seed. It is best to remove bird feeders and make sure your garbage is secure to make your yard less appealing to bears,” Connecticut Fish and Wildlife said in a social media post.

DEEP officials said that black bears attempt to enter homes or go on lawns because they consume human-associated food like birdseed, trash and pet food on a regular basis. These bears become “habituated” and “food-conditioned” and lose their fear of people. Food-conditioned and habituated bears in particular pose a risk to themselves as well as to public safety and often cause property damage to houses and cars or attack pets and livestock.

Bird feeders should generally be taken down by April 1 to avoid attracting bears, according to DEEP.

“Human-bear conflicts are increasing — both in frequency and severity,” DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes said. “It is critically important to the health of our bear population, and for the safety of Connecticut residents, that residents understand how to co-exist with bears in our communities; we want people and bears to be safe. That starts with making sure our homes are ‘no-bear-food-zones’ and keeping our pets supervised and leashed.”

Several towns in Connecticut have ordinances on when bird feeders need to come down. DEEP officials say that it is preferred to take them down by mid-March to be extra cautious as bears begin getting more active.

“In the spring and summer breeding seasons, birds rely on caterpillars, insects and other natural food sources to feed their young. To help resolve the issue of human-bear conflict, we support the recommendations shared by DEEP to remove bird feeders — including hummingbird feeders — as a precautionary measure,” said Michael Burger, executive director of Audubon Connecticut and New York.

“This temporary change will not have a negative impact on the birds you love, and you can always attract birds to your home with the addition of native plants: Black-eyed susan, Cardinalflower, and Bee Balm are some local favorites,” he said.

DEEP is also reminding residents to be “Bear Aware” and to know what to do in case of a bear sighting.

Officials said they first recommend scaring away bears with loud noises through yelling or using whistles or air horns. Scaring a black bear can reinforce its natural fear of people and help keep it from lingering in neighborhoods and other areas where conflicts often arise. Effectively scaring a bear also reinforces the person as dominant in an encounter, so the bear learns to avoid people.

In some cases, DEEP said loud noises are not effective at scaring away bears, especially ones that have already been habituated. Bears that are in urban areas and less afraid of humans may not perceive loud noises as a threat.

In these situations, DEEP officials say it can be more effective to use an object to make physical contact with the bear to drive it away. Throwing objects such as tennis balls, water balloons and small rocks at the bear can work, but using a paintball marker or slingshot can be more accurate and deliver more contact warnings in a short period of time, according to DEEP.

Bear spray continues to be one of the more popular choices for those looking to defend themselves against bears without having to throw a physical object, according to DEEP. In Connecticut, it is illegal to shoot a bear using a firearm.

To avoid bear conflicts, DEEP offers the following suggestions.

— Never feed bears, intentionally or accidentally.

— If there is regular bear activity in your area, avoid putting out birdfeeders at any time of year. Bears are typically less active from mid-December through the end of February, so birdfeeders may be put out during that timeframe in areas with no bear activity. However, if a bear visits your feeders take them down immediately and do not put them back up. The best way to support birds is to plant ecologically valuable native plants, which provide food and shelter year-round and benefit far more species than bird seed. Adding a clean source of water with a bird bath will also help birds and create enjoyable viewing opportunities. BearWise also provides tips on how to attract birds and not bears. Several municipalities (such as Simsbury) have ordinances regarding feeding birds during certain times of the year.

— Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or other enclosed storage area. Adding ammonia to trash cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Do not store recyclables in a porch or screened sunroom as bears can smell these items and will rip screens to get at them. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.

— Ask your garbage removal company if they provide bear-proof garbage cans.

— Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.

— Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside.

— Supervise pets at all times when outside.

— Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods such as fruit and fruit peels in compost piles.

— If you see a bear in your yard, do not approach it. Go into your house, garage or other structure. If the bear persistently approaches, go on the offensive — shout, wave your arms and throw sticks or rocks. Learn how to safely scare a bear.

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