Wacky Winter Weather Could Bring Bears Out Early in Manchester and Nearby

Could the wacky winter weather eventually produce corresponding wacky habits from the bear population in Tolland and Hartford counties?

You betcha, a state wildlife expert said on Friday. They may at least get up for a snack.

"With this weather, some of the bears might start getting up and foraging," said Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. " It depends on what happens with the weather in the next months."

Male bears are more apt to "get up and move around," he said.

"If there is no snow cover, then they can start looking for food," Rego said. "It is king of hard this time of year, but if there is no snow on the ground, they could wander out to find what little food is available," he said.

Bird feeders should be safe for now, he said.

"Warmer weather means more (early) sightings," he said. "If you live in an area known for a lot of bear activity, at least be on guard."

That means towns like Avon and Farmington, which lead the state in sightings. Vernon seems to now have a resident bear along the Route 30 corridor and Tolland and Ellington faced a bear attacking a goat near the border of both towns in 2016.

Black bear sightings continue to be on the rise in Connecticut. The DEEP has released new statistics on sightings as of early January.

Avon continues to lead the way with 600 over a 12-month period, followed by Farmington with more than 500. They are an overwhelming No. 1 and No. 2.

Here is a look at the top dozen Connecticut towns in terms of reported bear sightings from Jan. 16, 2016 through Jan. 2, 2017:

1. Avon 600
2. Farmington 501
3. Southbury 283
4. Simsbury 280
5. Burlington 268
6. West Hartford 267
7. Canton 245
8. New Milford 223
9. Torrington: 195
10. Woodbury: 168
11. Winchester: 149
12. Granby 147

"Right now, resident can feed birds without fear," Rego said. "Bt if a bear is sighted, then take down the feeders for a while."

Click here for the DEEP bear page and to see a full town-by-town listing.

Photo Credit: Paul Fusco/CT DEEP-Wildlife