A bear was spotted in the yard of a West Hartford home on Tuesday morning.
The homeowner at 48 Lostbrook Road spotted the bear around 8 a.m. Animal Control responded immediately while yards away, kids were arriving at Norfeldt Elementary School.
“Spoke to them, and told them, ‘We’ll just wait and see what happens. I’ll keep an eye on him in the meantime, let kids get to school safely," said West Hartford Assistant Animal Control Officer Helen Lee.
The bear slept barely disturbed and minutes later, he stirred, yawned, gnawed on a few twigs and stretched out.
Once he had his bearings, he dozed off again.
Meanwhile, cars and buses continued driving by to drop off the kids.
“This time of year, the bears are still a little groggy, and he wasn’t acting threatening to anyone, so there’s really no reason to get crazy about it or make a big scene," Lee added.
The bear later climbed 60 feet into a backyard pine tree.
Officers approached to make the bear climb higher, to keep it away from the school.
“When they’re in the trees, they feel a little more secure, and they’re less apt to move around people," said Lee.
One neighbor said he sees this bear every three to four weeks.
"Always walks through the neighborhood. Same pattern. My house, the neighbor’s house the neighbor’s across the street, so we see the bear all the time actually,” said Mark Zydanowicz, of West Hartford.
The bear finally came down from the tree around 5 p.m., more than 8 hours after climbing it.
Bears are not true hibernators and are known to come out in the winter months every once in a while, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Experts recommend taking down any bird feeders and eliminating food attractants by placing garbage cans inside of garages or sheds.
Residents are urged not to approach or get close to bears for a photo or video. They are also urged not to intentionally feed bears as they could become accustomed to finding food near the home.
If a bear is seen in your neighborhood, you're encouraged to leave it alone. In most situations, if the bear is left alone and given a route to escape, it will usually wander back into a secluded area, DEEP said.
If a bear is found in a densely populated area, you can contact DEEP Wildlife Division at (860) 424-4911 or DEEP Dispatch at (860) 424-3333.
