Greenwich police are advising residents of some safety tips after there were two bear sightings in town on Memorial Day weekend.
The first bear was spotted in a Birch Lane backyard late on May 24 and the second one was on the Burning Tree Country Club property early morning on Memorial Day. The people who reported the bear sightings saw them at a distance and the bears didn't make any contact with people or pets, police said.
Bear sightings are rare in Greenwich police said, but they are returning to the area due to "the regrowth of forestland throughout the region following the abandonment of farms during the late 1800s."
"Black bears travel and feed primarily at night, but can be active any time of the day," Greenwich police said in a news release. "Black bears are generally shy and secretive and usually fearful of humans. However, if they regularly find food near houses and areas of human activity, they can lose their fear of humans. Unlike grizzly bears, black bears are seldom aggressive toward humans."
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection gives the following safety tips about what to do if you see a bear:
- View it from a distance.
- Shout and wave your arms to make your presence known or walk away slowly.
- Don't try to feed or lure bears near you.
- Report bear sightings to DEEP's Wildlife Division at 860-675-8130.
You can find more information on DEEP's website.
