Cromwell police have received several calls about a bear Thursday morning.
A black bear was seen in the area of South Street and River Road.
Tips on preventing bear encounters
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Police are urging residents to follow recommendations from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to reduce encounters and potential conflicts with bears.
- Remove food attractants, such as birdseed and unsecured garbage
- Never feed bears.
- Take down, clean and put away bird feeders
- Do not store bird seed in screened porches or sheds
- Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or other enclosed storage area.
- Do not store recyclables in a porch or screened sunroom as bears can smell these items and will rip screens to get at them.
- Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.
- Supervise dogs at all times when outside. Keep dogs on a short leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.
- Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside.
- Use electric fencing to protect chickens, other livestock, beehives, agricultural crops, and berry bushes.
- Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods, such as fruit and fruit peels, in compost piles.
