Bear Enters Simsbury Home, Takes Food, Then Leaves, State Officials Say

SIMSBURY, CT — Encounters with bears in Simsbury are becoming so common that folks would probably not be surprised to see a bear on the municipal elections ballot this November.

While that is not the case, one curious and hungry bear made his or her presence known Sunday evening at a Simsbury residence.

According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, DEEP EnCon Police were called to a Simsbury home for a report of a bear entering a house.

DEEP said the incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. and it entered either via a pushed-out window air conditioner or a door left open, DEEP reported.

According to DEEP, the bear helped itself to some food and then left the home.

While no one is sure if the bear made a sandwich and watched the Bears-Cowboys game on television at the time, what is likely is that the lone person in the house was treated to quite a shock.

DEEP said the occupant of the home was unharmed, and the bear was gone by the time police arrived.

WFSB Channel 3 reported that a 17-year-old girl was inside the house, taking a nap before work, and had to hide in a closet, calling 911, while the bear walked throughout the home.

DEEP spokesman Will Healey said Monday morning that as the chill of autumn continues, bears will be more active as they prepare to hibernate for winter.

He urged folks to be careful and do whatever is necessary to avoid human-bear encounters.

"As we enter the fall, bears become more active as they prepare for the winter denning season," wrote Healey.

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Sunday's Simsbury bear encounter was more benign than one reported in July at a Simsbury state park, when a West Hartford woman's dog was mauled by a bear. (The dog recovered.)

Information on best practices to reduce the likelihood of a human-bear conflict is available on the DEEP website here: The Basics of Living with Black Bears.

For the full WFSB Channel 3 report, click on this link.

From July 10: 'Bear In Simsbury Mauls West Hartford Woman's Dog: Report'

See also:

• Bear Surprises Local Resident In Back Yard: Report'
• 'Tree-Climbing Bear Greets Shoppers At Mall: Reports'
• 'CT Bear Population Expands: Town-By-Town Numbers'