Bear Spotted Near Entrance To Stop And Shop In Litchfield: Report

LITCHFIELD, CT — A bear was spotted just steps away from the entrance to a Stop and Shop grocery store in Litchfield this week, WTNH News 8 reports.

According to News 8, the bear was caught on camera at the Village Green Drive grocery store on Monday, photos of which can be viewed here.

Neither the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or state police received calls about the bear's presence outside the store, News 8 reports.

A number of bear sightings have been reported across Connecticut in recent months. In late July, a black bear and her baby broke into a car and destroyed the interior after becoming trapped inside near a home in Winsted.

In June, four furry black bears made their way inside a Simsbury home on Old Farms Road, just weeks after a single bear barged into a different home in town.

According to DEEP, black bears are increasingly common in Connecticut and reports of bear sightings, even in heavily populated residential areas, are on the rise.

The primary contributing factor to human-bear conflicts is the presence of easily-accessible food sources near homes and businesses, according to DEEP.

Black bears that consume human-associated food like trash and birdseed on a regular basis tend to become comfortable near people and associate humans, houses and neighborhoods with food.

DEEP offers a number of resources about living with black bears, including basics and frequently asked questions, on its website.

Read the full WTNH News 8 story here.