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In Fairfield County, the New Canaan Police Department issued a warning after bears killed multiple chickens as they prepare to fatten themselves up before hibernating for the winter.
Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm said the coop was broken into sometime overnight between Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7, and two chickens were killed, one of which was partially consumed.
This is believed to be the first incident with a bear in Fairfield County attacking chickens or damaging a coop.
According to officials, the most effective way to keep animals safe from a potential bear attack is to keep them within an electric fence to thwart the carnivores.
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), If you encounter a bear while in your yard or hiking, “make your presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. Never attempt to get closer to a bear. If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area.”
“Bears should never be fed – either intentionally or unintentionally,” DEEP officials noted. “Bears that are attracted to homes by easily accessible foods lose their fear of humans.
“Such bears spend more time in neighborhoods and near people, increasing risks to public safety, the likelihood of property damage, and the possibility that the bears may be hit and killed by vehicles.”
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