Connecticut Considers Legalizing Bear Hunting

There's no question that there are more black bears in Connecticut than there used to be—and that's posing problems as they move into more populated areas.

Just yesterday, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) shot and killed a black bear in Keney Park in Hartford. That's right, there was a bear roaming in Connecticut's capital city.

The bear, an 18-20-month-old male weighing in at about 150 pounds, had previously been tagged and identified as one that had recently displayed aggressive behavior toward humans in Barkhamsted. One man reported it had actually chased him into his cellar. 

Last week,  after the department decided it had become too aggressive toward humans. 

“Once bears become aggressive like this they can no longer be safely relocated," said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen. 

A Costly Proposition

State environmental officials say that dealing with the growing bear population is becoming increasingly expensive and problematic. Connecticut Mirror reported Wednesday the state is now spending a quarter-million-dollars a year responding to concerns about the exploding black bear population.

According to the DEEP:

• There were 352 reports of damage by bears in Connecticut last year, and at least 16 incidents in 2010 where bears entered homes.
• Road accidents involving bears have also been on the rise, with 24 killed last year compared with fewer than 10 in 2000.

The black bear population is currently estimated at approximately 500 and it's growing fast. In 2011, the DEEP received nearly 3,000 bear sighting reports from 122 of Connecticut’s 169 towns. 

For now, the DEEP continues to stress the importance of never feeding bears. 

"Feeding bears, either intentionally or unintentionally, is not in the bear’s best interest," said Whalen. "It will become habituated and lose its fear of people and will eventually have to be dispatched.”

DEEP officials, however, are considering allowing hunters to dispatch a few black bears to help keep the population down. Do you think the state should permit a yearly bear hunt to help control the population?

Add your thoughts in the comments below.