Date: Fri 12-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

bears-DEP-Rego

Full Text:

Black Bear Moving South, Following The Return of Mature Forests

(with cuts)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Black bears in Newtown backyards? It simply doesn't bear thinking about.

Yet Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wildlife biologist Paul Rego

says we might have to keep our eyes open and keep an open mind, as well,

because the bears are, indeed, slowly moving back into our state, spreading

southward.

"Our rough estimate is that there are from 30 to 60 bears already in

Connecticut," Dr Rego said recently, and more are moving down from

Massachusetts, where, like moose, they have been showing up in even greater

numbers recently.

"Even though the number of bears is relatively small, we already have conflict

and complaints from area residents," he said, especially in the towns of New

Milford and Washington where bear sightings were reported last spring.

"The habitat can support more [bears] but now the question is whether our

citizens will tolerate more," Dr Rego said, speaking Friday from his Sessions

Woods office in Burlington.

Dr Rego will be presenting a program Saturday, December 13, on "The Black Bear

in Connecticut," in which he plans to recount instances of bear sightings in

the area and to explain why the animals are beginning to reclaim a territory

where they were once well established.

Black bear were numerous in southern New England before the first of several

successive waves of deforestation that occurred after the arrival of European

colonists 300 years ago.

Dr Rego explained that at the end of the 19th century, when 90 percent of

Connecticut land had been cleared for agriculture, black bear were virtually

unheard of in this state.

Yet, "we certainly had bears historically, and now the forest cover has come

back to the point where a resident population does exist, resulting in

sightings over the past 15 to 20 years," Dr Rego said.

"Fifty years ago, these big woods we have now were young woods, particularly

in the case of oak trees. Acorn production increases as the tree matures," and

bears love acorns, he said.

What Bears Like To Eat

Bears are mostly vegetarians, Dr Rego said.

"In the spring, they eat green shoots and young succulent plants. In the

summer, they seek out berries and fruit. Of course, they also like to eat

colonial insects, bees and ants and their eggs."

"In the fall, apples and acorns are very important and that's why they need

the mature forests. They will scavenge dead animals any time and occasionally

can actually prey upon live animals, but it's more a factor of opportunity,"

he added.

Normal black bear behavior is not thought to be aggressive.

"They avoid close contact with humans, if at all possible."

There have been no instances of rabies among black bear found in Connecticut

and, "The type or strain of rabies here doesn't seem to effect them," Dr Rego

said.

Southbury Sightings

Jim Nolan, Audubon naturalist at the Lillinonah Audubon Society wildlife

sanctuary on the Pomperaug River, said Monday that he had briefly seen a black

bear on the preserve and former estate known as Bent-of-the-River.

"It was early in the spring. We had seen the tracks, and I got a brief glimpse

of one on the back side of the property," Mr Nolan said.

"Usually, at that time of year, they are rogue males that wander around

looking for food and to establish territory."

Mr Nolan said he had heard of other sightings in the South Britain area.

"You might see them while walking in the woods, or while driving -- as they

cross a country road," he said.

Dr Rego, too, mentioned that black bears are almost always solitary, but he

did point out that in some cases you might see adult females with cubs.

"Right now, they are looking to hibernate and they'll stay in their burrows

for the next three to four months," Dr Rego said.

The public is invited to learn more about "Wildlife Habitat Management" and

"The Black Bear In Connecticut" by attending a free program at 1:30 pm on

Saturday, December 13, at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in the

Conservation Education Center in Burlington. The center is located on Route

69, north of Route 84 and Bristol.

In addition to Dr Rego's talk, DEP Wildlife Biologist Judy Wilson will outline

the Wildlife Divisions Habitat Management Program. Please call 860/675-8130 to

let them know you are coming.