Harwinton Bear Family Leaves After Pushing Into Home’s Kitchen, DEEP Urges ‘Be BearWise’ Practices

CONNECTICUT — An ursine home invasion last week has state wildlife officials reminding residents of the basic clack bear do's and don'ts.

A sow and three cubs pushed their way into a Harwinton home’s kitchen before leaving on their own, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which is urging residents to take extra precautions as bear activity continues into late fall.

DEEP spokesperson James Fowler said officers responded after the resident reported the bears attempting to enter through doors that opened directly into the kitchen. The animals were gone when officials arrived, Fowler said in an email to Patch. The homeowner had been making noise in an effort to scare them off.

“There were no intentional attractants on the deck or immediately outside the home,” Fowler said, noting the resident keeps trash secured in a garage and does not feed birds. A nearby neighbor, however, had just recently stopped feeding birds.

Related: CT Bear Population Expands: Town-By-Town Numbers

While the bears did not obtain food, officers detected odors coming from the kitchen area, which Fowler said likely prompted the animals to investigate. With holiday cooking underway and additional foods stored indoors, he said residents should be mindful that strong scents can entice bears.

DEEP provided the resident with guidance on safely using aversive conditioning techniques if the bears return, including making loud noises, overseeing pets, and hanging ammonia-soaked rags near entry points.

Fowler also noted the agency is seeing increased activity statewide as bears continue to forage before winter. “Prevention is the best long-term solution to human-bear conflicts we have in our toolbox,” he said, urging residents to "Be BearWise."

Recommended BearWise Practices

According to DEEP’s “Basics of Living with Black Bears” guidance, residents should:

• Secure all garbage and place trash cans inside a garage or shed until collection day.
• Remove bird feeders, especially in fall and winter.
• Protect backyard chickens and livestock with electric fencing.
• Clean grills after each use and store them away from the house.
• Avoid leaving any food outdoors, including pet food and food scraps.
• Freeze food waste before disposal to limit smells that attract bears.
• Never intentionally feed wildlife, which can condition bears to seek out homes.

Fowler said residents should contact DEEP Emergency Dispatch at 860-424-3333 if bears show persistent attempts to enter homes or display escalating conflict behaviors.

“With holiday leftovers in particular, food waste should be disposed of properly and never put out for wildlife,” he said. “Natural food is always best for bears.”